A $496 million contract to remove level crossings at Manchester Road, Mooroolbark and the Maroondah Highway in Lilydale, Melbourne, has been awarded to an alliance of companies.
The Level Crossing Removal Authority has awarded Laing O’Rourke, Jacobs and Metro Trains Melbourne the contract for the project, the same alliance that won the contract for the Toorak Road level crossing in 2019.
Rail bridges will be used to remove the level crossings on the Lilydale Line, with two new stations will be built. This is expected to shorten travel times and improve connectivity across all methods of transport.
Around 53,000 vehicles use the crossings each day with boom gates halting the flow of traffic for up to a quarter of the morning peak.
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Design work begin in early 2020 to incorporate community feedback into recently released concept designs.
Hundreds of local residents have provided input into the project and will continue to have input as the designs are further refined.
A multi-deck carpark will also be built at Mooroolbark station with up to 450 new spaces.
Construction is expected to begin mid-2020 and be completed in 2022.
The Level Crossing Removal Project plans to remove 75 level crossings around Melbourne by 2025. More than 30 have been removed by the Level Crossing Removal Authority so far, with 20 now in construction or planning and the total number of contracts awarded for the project surpassing 50.