Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has named the first 14 level crossings Labor wants to remove under a $6.6 billion extension to its level crossing removal program.
Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Authority has removed 29 Melbourne level crossings and is on track to remove a further 21 by 2022.
Ahead of the state election next month, Andrews on Sunday announced Labor would add another $6.6 billion and 25 crossings to the Authority’s charter, extending the project timeline to 2025.
The premier identified 14 of the additional 25 crossings, and said 11 more would be named in “coming weeks”.
The 14 additional crossings, selected for removal after “rigorous analysis by experts at the Level Crossing Removal Authority and Transport for Victoria”, are:
- On the Sunbury line, the crossing of Gap Road in Sunbury.
- On the Mernda line (previously the South Morang line), crossings at Cramer Street, Murray Road and Oakover Road in Preston.
- On the Werribee line, the crossing of Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing.
- On the Frankston line, crossings of Glen Huntly Road and Neerim Road in Glen Huntly, and crossings of Chelsea Road, Argyle Avenue, and Swanpool Avenue in Chelsea.
- On the Upfield line, crossings of Munro Street and Reynard Street in Coburg
- On the Belgrave/Lilydale line, crossings at Union Road in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road in Mont Albert.
Andrews said the Labor Government could afford to make the $6.6 billion commitment thanks to strong budget surpluses.
“Whether it’s removing level crossings, or building the Suburban Rail Loop – only Labor will make our roads less congested and get you home to your family safer and sooner,” Andrews said.
Victoria will have a state election on November 24.
Andrews was first elected in 2014, with the level crossing removal program a key campaign promise. Labor aimed to remove 20 of Melbourne’s most dangerous crossings by 2018, and 50 by 2022.
On Sunday, public transport minister Jacinta Allan said the 29 crossings already removed under the program showed voters should trust Labor to follow through.
“No Government has ever removed this many level crossings this quickly – reducing congestion, improving public transport, saving lives and creating thousands of jobs along the way,” Allan said.