Melbourne Metro stations Ormond and Bentleigh, both rebuilt as part of the removal of level crossings on the Frankston line in the city’s south, have been re-opened two days ahead of schedule.
The stations were rebuilt by a consortium of John Holland and KBR, which won the first major contract under the Andrews Government’s multi-billion-dollar plan to remove 50 level crossings around the greater Melbourne area.
The $524 million contract, awarded in early 2015, covered the removal of four level crossings, at Centre Road in Bentleigh, North Road in Ormond, McKinnon Road in McKinnon and Burke Road in Glen Iris.
As part of that work, Bentleigh, Ormond, McKinnon and Gardiner stations were to be rebuilt at each site, respectively.
Burke Road became the first level crossing project completed midway through this year, and thus Gardiner station was the first rebuilt station opened under the work program. McKinnon Station was opened a few months later, and now Ormond and Bentleigh stations have been opened to follow suit.
“This is the first time in Victoria’s history that three level crossings have been removed at the same time,” public transport minister Jacinta Allan said, referencing the combined removal of the North Road, McKinnon Road and Centre Road crossings.
“[It’s] an incredible effort by everyone who worked around the clock to make our roads safer and less congested,” Allan added.
“In less than 18 months, we’ve removed four level crossings in Melbourne’s south-east, and started work on getting rid of another 15.”
Frankston line trains resumed service on August 1 after the line was closed for the removals. But as of August 29, those trains now stop at Ormond and Bentleigh stations as well.
In coming months, final works will take place at all three new stations on the Frankston line to install lifts, rebuild car parks, and complete landscaping.