State opposition leader Daniel Andrews has promised to remove the Melton Highway level crossing in Sydenham if Labor gets elected next month.
Visiting the level crossing on Wednesday morning, Mr Andrews said it would be one of 50 dangerous level crossings removed across the state as part of Labor’s Project 10,000 plan – but he could not confirm when it would get done, how much it would cost or whether an overpass or underpass would be built.
The St Albans station and Furlong Road level crossings would also be removed under the plan.
Mr Andrews said the Melton Highway level crossing was a dangerous and congested intersection that would only get busier as the area continued to grow.
“The first step to improving pedestrian safety and traffic congestion in Sydenham is to remove this level crossing,” he said.
“Too many people have died [on level crossings], too much time has been wasted and it’s holding our public transport system back.”
The announcement comes after Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins tabled a petition with more than 2500 signatures in Parliament, calling for the Melton Highway level crossing to be removed.
Ms Hutchins said boom gates at the level crossing were down, on average, 52 minutes during the two-hour morning and afternoon peak periods, with traffic banking up up to five kilometres down either side of the level crossing.
She said the level crossing added up to 30 minutes to a school pick-up and drop-off, while students commuting on foot were putting their lives in danger and ducking under the boom gates to get to school on time.
