By Alesha Capone
The state government has announced it will fast-track removal of the Hoppers Crossing level crossing, so the project will be completed by the end of 2022.
Treasurer Tim Pallas today announced the preferred design for the Hoppers Crossing site, in addition to the preferred designs for the Werribee Street and Cherry Street level crossing removals.
Mr Pallas said that at the last state election, the government had promised to remove the Hoppers Crossing level crossing by 2025, but that the project has now been moved forward.
The removal of the crossing, which is located on Old Geelong Road, will be carried out alongside works to remove the two Werribee crossings, with construction set to start next year.
The preferred design to remove the Old Geelong Road crossing is to construct a new road bridge over the rail line, east of the existing crossing, directly connecting the Princes Highway to Old Geelong Road and Heaths Road.
At Cherry Street, the preferred design would also see a new road bridge built east of the existing crossing, linking Tarneit Road to the Princes Highway (via the irrigation channel next to Wyndham council’s offices).
The preferred design to remove the Werribee Street level crossing is to elevate the railway line over the road, with a rail bridge over the street.
“Just like the 29 level crossings we’ve already removed across Melbourne, these three sites at Werribee and Hoppers Crossing cause nothing but frustration and anxiety – they have to go,” Mr Pallas said.
Tarneit MP Sarah Connolly, who also attended the announcement said:“Anyone who has been stuck behind the boom gates at these level crossings knows what a difference removing them will make.”
Mr Pallas said the aim of removing the three level crossings at the same time was to “minimise disruption to the community”.
Mr Pallas said one privately-owned business might have to be acquired to make way for the Hoppers Crossing level crossing’s preferred design.
He said that the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LCRA) was already involved in “preliminary discussions” with the business.
He declined to name the business, but the LCRA’s chief executive Kevin Devlin said it was not one of the businesses located in the shopping strip on Old Geelong Road.
Mr Pallas said the cost of removing the level crossing would not be known until tenders were submitted.
He said the LCRA and the state government would consult with the community about the preferred designs for the level crossing removals.
See levelcrossings.vic.gov.au for details.
