By Dan Moss, state parliament editor
WORKS to signals and services as part of the removal of three level crossings is set to begin after the awarding of contracts was announced yesterday.
A design and construction contract worth $8.8 million was awarded to Coleman Rail for works at Springvale Road in Springvale.
But 22,000 drivers a day can expect more than a year of traffic snarls as works are slated from now until late-2014.
Mitcham drivers will start seeing $4.7 million works to move gas and other services at two level crossings on Mitcham Road and Rooks Road, before the removal of the level crossings and construction of new grade separations.
Transport Minister Terry Mulder said works at both level crossings would start this month.
VicRoads has warned that traffic would be disrupted when construction begins.
The removal of level crossings are part of a Coalition election promise, with Springvale and Mitcham earmarked as the first of 12 sites. Initial signal and services work is preliminary to the main grade separation projects.
Planning is also underway to eliminate crossings at Scoresby Road and Mountain Highway, Bayswater, Blackburn Road, Blackburn, Main Road, St Albans, Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena, Burke Road, Glen Iris and North Road, Ormond.
