It’s official – works to remove the St Albans Main Road level crossing will start this year.
The state government last week announced the establishment of a level crossings removal authority, which will deliver Labor’s election promise to remove Victoria’s 50 most dangerous level crossings over the next eight years.
Works to remove the first four level crossings – at Main Road, St Albans; Blackburn Road, Blackburn; Burke Road, Glen Iris; and North Road at Ormond – will begin later this year.
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said she was looking forward to seeing the first sod turned on the Main Road project.
“It was long overdue and I would like to thank everyone who has campaigned and worked hard over many, many years to make this a reality.”
St Albans Traders Association secretary Asip Demiri was thrilled with the announcement.
“No more people will be killed there,” he said. “Just imagine what it will mean to all those people who have lost a loved one there.”
The announcement comes after a Star Weekly report last month revealed the construction package for the Main Road level crossing was already out to tender, with the successful applicant to be named in April.
Meanwhile, construction dates for the Furlong Road level crossing at St Albans and the Melton Highway level crossing at Sydenham have yet to be determined.
Ms Suleyman said she would strongly advocate for the Furlong Road crossing to also be removed “as soon as possible”.
Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins said the scope and timing of the Melton Highway level crossing would also be decided soon.
