By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AS of today, Springvale’s deadly level crossing is history.
Premier Denis Napthine was flanked by Transport Minister Terry Mulder and a host of Coalition state MPs as he announced the opening of Springvale’s new underground premium railway station this morning.
The $159 million project plunged railway tracks under Springvale Road, removing the need for boom gates that held up traffic for 50 minutes during a two-hour weekday peak.
About 25,000 motorists and 450 trains travelled through the former level crossing each weekday.
During a rainy morning peak time this morning, there were few signs of traffic squalls – despite some altered turning directions into side-streets.
Springvale residents John and Sonnia Rodriguez, who knew two pedestrians killed by trains at the former level crossing, said the project was an overdue safety improvement.
Last month, a woman in her seventies was struck and killed by a train as she crossed the tracks.
“(The killed pedestrians) probably had got confused about when to cross when the lights were down,” Mr Rodriguez said.
“We’ve been living around here for 40 years. It’s about time” Mr Rodriguez said.
“It’s going to be beautiful for everyone.”
Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti quipped he hoped the level-crossing removal program was “stopping all stations to Dandenong”.
He was referring to the council’s lobbying for the removal of three Noble Park level-crossings at Heatherton, Corrigan and Chandler roads.
“It’s the future,” Cr Memeti said. “It means saving lives. It’s something that both sides of politics have to commit to.”
The State Government states it has carried out “planning and pre-construction works” for removing level crossings at Chandler and Heatherton roads, Noble Park.
Mr Mulder said “it was a good time to be Transport Minister” as he cheerily gave away commemorative travel coffee cups at the new underground railway station.
“This area will boom off the back of it. The stations that we’re building are attracting residential and retail development around it. It’s a type of urban renewal.”
He said there was $2.5 billion investment in the Dandenong rail corridor to come, including four other grade separations and 33 per cent more train service capacity.
The project includes new bus, taxi and parking sites, with short-term drop-off points.
Road resurfacing, landscaping of the station forecourt, the installation of lifts and demolition of the former railway station building is expected over coming months.
