Held in Buchanan Park on Saturday 23 July, a community event saw over 700 Berwick locals come together to celebrate the end of works at the Clyde Road level crossing removal project.
The level crossing at Clyde Road was removed in February this year in a bid to ease congestion and improve road safety by building an underpass below the rail line.
Local Rotary Club member Gus Dominguez said the new Clyde Road underpass has provided numerous benefits to locals and travellers alike.
“If you lived in this area, you were most likely very unhappy with the level crossing that we had before, the queues were tremendous. This is a fantastic piece of infrastructure for the town, no questions asked,” Dominguez said.
Berwick Country Fire Authority’s Ernest Tay said the level crossing removal has also improved commute times for brigade volunteers.
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“From a brigade level, for us from down south having to come across it’s a lot better to have it out of the way as that used to be a big factor turning up for work. If the train came, you weren’t going to make it to station,” Tay said.
On the day of the event, locals enjoyed free food and coffee, face painting, live entertainment, children’s activities, a magician and a treasure hunt with prizes.
Students from St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar were also available to answer questions about their artwork currently on display at Berwick Station.
The Clyde Road level crossing was the 12th to be removed along the Pakenham Line, with nine more to go to make it boom-gate free by 2025.
The Project is also delivering the new Berwick Station bus interchange scheduled for completion later this year.