Although the planned removal of Werribee’s Cherry Street level crossing has been delayed, upgrades at the troubled tracks have made it safer for motorists and pedestrians.
Announcing the completion of recent works this week, Werribee MP Tim Pallas recalled the death of an elderly woman, whose car was hit by a freight train at the crossing in 2012.
Upgrades include the reconfiguration of the Market Road pedestrian crossing and new lanes on the northern side.
Traffic signals have also been adjusted to reduce queuing and congestion around the crossing.
Mr Pallas said Cherry Street was on the list of the 50 most dangerous and congested level crossings to be removed over the next seven years, the aim being to increase traffic flows and create space to run more trains across Melbourne.
In an interview with Star Weekly last month, Mr Pallas acknowledged community concerns about the crossing. He said the crossing would be removed if the Labor government was re-elected for a second term.
“I don’t anticipate that [the removal of the Cherry Street level crossing] will be completed in our first term,” he said.
He said there were other things the community needed beforehand, such as the arterial road network.
