The demolition of Reservoir station in Melbourne’s north has begun, as part of the removal of the High Street road-rail crossing under the state’s Level Crossing Removal Program.
A rail bridge is being built to separate High Street in Reservoir with the Mernda Line, a junction traversed by 36,000 road vehicles each day.
In the past decade there were three recorded collisions and a fatality at the crossing, along with 26 near misses. A train and car collided at the crossing earlier this year.
On top of eliminating the crossing, the elevated rail line will also allow for the construction of a new station with more direct connections to Edwardes Street and Broadway.
A pair of piling rigs arrived on site last week to begin laying the foundations for the rail bridge.
“We’re getting rid of this notorious bottleneck in the heart of Reservoir and with construction well underway the level crossing will be gone for good by next year,” Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said.
Member for Preston Robin Scott added: “I don’t think anyone is sorry to see the old Reservoir Station now gone, and work ramping up on the level crossing removal. It’s great to see this massive project taking shape.”
The Reservoir level crossing removal and new station are scheduled to be complete in 2020.