Level crossing safety triumph

THE solution to Springvale’s traffic nightmare appears to have jumped its final hurdle.
Premier Denis Napthine said works on removing the Springvale Road rail crossing would begin shortly when he visited Springvale Railway Station on Tuesday.
He announced NetworX, made up of McConnell Dowell, Balfour Beatty Rail and Parsons Brinckerhoff/Beca, as the successful tenders for the project with Roads Minister Terry Mulder.
Mr Napthine said the Springvale Road boom gates were down for nearly half of the morning peak.
“Not only enormously frustrating and costly for motorists, it also poses a significant safety risk,” he said.
He said separating the rail line from the road would be a massive boost for easing congestion and would lead to safer conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, road users and public transport passengers.
Mr Mulder released an animated display showing how the new Springvale level crossing would look once the project was finished at the end of next year.
“The projects will also create at least 140 new jobs and hundreds more indirectly over the life of construction,” he said.
Mr Mulder said about 8000 vehicles, 1000 pedestrians and 140 train services passed through during peak times each day.
The project would include making Springvale a fully-manned premium station with below-ground platforms, better pedestrian access and a shared user path.