Six level crossing removals are set to take place across Melbourne this year, on top of works already underway on the project.
Four level crossings are set to be removed in Preston along with two level crossings in Deer Park, in Melbourne’s West.
Two contracts worth a total of nearly $800 million have been awarded to alliances to undertake the construction works.
In Preston, the Mernda rail line will be raised over four roads to remove the level crossings and open two kilometres of space underneath the rail bridge.
The state government has awarded the $564 million construction contract for this work to an alliance of John Holland Group, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
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Works are expected to generate more than 1000 full-time jobs during peak construction.
Bell Street and Preston Stations will also undergo a rebuild as part of the contract, to provide modern facilites and safer, more direct connections to public transport, local shops and parking.
These level crossings are expected to be removed by 2022, with the open space underneath the rail line to be complete in 2023.
At Deer Park the state government has awarded a $234 million contract for the project that will see a road underpass built at Robinsons Road and an overpass built at Fitzgerald Road.
The contract has been granted to an alliance of Fulton Hogan, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Around 400 full time jobs are expected to be created at peak construction.
Safety improvements are a key factor to these level crossing removals with 18 near misses since 2012.
Improvements to the level crossings will work with other road improvements that are part of the Western Roads Upgrade, including upgrades to intersections and the construction of extra lanes on Palmers Road.
Early works will kick off this month with the project expected to be complete in 2023.