By CASEY NEILL
A rail bridge and a road bridge are the two options on the table for removing the Abbotts Road level crossing.
Two deaths and many injuries in the past seven years has placed the Dandenong South junction on the State Government’s list of 50 it would remove as soon as possible.
The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) caused community uproar in February when it proposed closing Abbotts Road and building a new road link over the rail line connecting Remington Drive to Pound Road West.
Abbotts Road businesses said the project would cripple trade on the thoroughfare.
LXRA announced a back-flip in response to community pressure on 23 May and on Wednesday 29 June revealed it had shortlisted “two feasible options”.
An email sent to stakeholders said community consultation and a “thorough multi-criteria assessment” had narrowed the options down to building a rail bridge over Abbotts Road or a road bridge over the rail line.
“Dandenong South is a growing employment and innovation hub and, as such, the impact on businesses is a key consideration in determining the final solution for this project,” the email said.
Road and rail network efficiency, construction impacts, site characteristics, safety, value for money and future development in the area were other key criteria.
“Further work needs to be done on both the shortlisted options to determine the best possible solution to remove the level crossing at Abbotts Road,” it said.
This work will be presented at community drop-in sessions in July for feedback and a final solution will be announced in August.
Visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au for more information.
