The Victorian Government says a pair of level crossings in St Albans will be removed by the end of the year, six months ahead of the original timeframe.
Public transport minister Jacinta Allan this week announced a construction blitz would see the crossings at Main and Furlong Road removed well ahead of schedule.
A team of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and Arcadis holds the contract for the removals.
Allan says both crossings are among Victoria’s most dangerous and congested, with boom gates at Furlong Road down for 35 minutes every two-hour morning peak, and boom gates down at Main Road for 65 minutes of the two-hour morning peak.
“St Albans has lived with these death traps for too long,” the minister said.
“They clog streets, risk lives and they’ll be gone by the end of the year.
“We’re also delivering $46 million-worth of critical maintenance and improvement works on the Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca lines in October, to improve the safety and reliability of services for V/Line passengers,” she added.
The Main Road crossing has been the site of two deaths and more than 40 near misses over the last decade.
Furlong Road has also seen “countless” near misses, the minister said.
Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman welcomed the ramped up removal program.
“These crossings don’t belong on our rail network or in the heart of a bustling community like St Albans,” Suleyman said.
“We said we would get rid of them and we are delivering on that promise.”