Designs have been revealed for the rail bridge that will remove four congested level crossings on the Upfield line in Melbourne’s north.
The rail bridge will remove every level crossing between Bell Street in Coburg and Moreland Road in Brunswick to reduce congestion and improve safety.
It has been designed to create 2.5 kilometres of parkland and open space in Melbourne and will feature barbecue facilities, a nature playground and landscaped gardens.
A dog park, playgrounds and public art are also some of the ideas being considered as part of the new space.
Three times as many trees will be planted as a result of the project, with additional improvement to be made for the Upfield Bike Path.
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The bridge will begin rising near Tinning Street in Brunswick and return to ground level south of O’Hea Street in Coburg. The bridge height will vary, with the highest point being 11 metres above ground.
Construction is set to start later in the year, with the open spaces ready by 2021.
A Voluntary Purchase Scheme will be offered to houses most impacted, with the project aiming to preserve the existing heritage listed Moreland and Coburg station buildings while developing the new elevated stations.
Both station buildings at Moreland and Coburg are listed in the Victorian Heritage Register and will be retained in their current positions to be integrated into the new station precincts.
An interim Heritage Protection order is in place on some places and objects within the railway corridor to ensure the Victorian Government can get the permits needed to remove the level crossings quickly.
Victorian Transport Minister, Jacinta Allan, said the State Government promised to slash congestion and make communities safer by removing the level crossings.
“These designs are the product of extensive community consultation and will not only remove these four dangerous level crossings – they’ll create new parks, paths and gardens in the heart of Coburg and Brunswick,” Allan said.
More than 300 survey responses and hundreds of comments from drop in sessions helped shape the artist impressions of the design. The local community will be invited to help refine the open space design in the coming weeks.
“I thank everyone for their feedback and contribution to the project. The community said they wanted these level crossings gone, better walking and cycling connections, and more open space – that’s what we’re delivering,” said Member for Pascoe Vale Lizzie Blandthorn.