The Victorian Government has marked the removal of the 88th level crossing from the Melbourne network, following the opening of the new Watsons Road Bridge.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Gabrielle Williams, announced the opening of the new road bridge and pedestrian path over the busy Sunbury Line – permanently separating trains from vehicles to deliver safer, more reliable connections for the growing Diggers Rest community.
It follows the opening of the new Golden Way Road bridge and the removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing in June, improving safety and easing congestion on local roads.
More than 8,000 vehicles used the Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road level crossings every day, facing delays of up to 36 minutes as 27 trains travelled through the crossings during the morning peak.
Getting rid of all 35 boom gate sets along the Sunbury and Pakenham lines – a near-100-kilometre section – has eased congestion for more than half a million motorists who used these dangerous crossings each weekday and eliminated a collective total of 23 hours of boom gate down time in the morning peak.
It also avoids even longer boom gate delays when more trains run on the line following the Metro Tunnel opening this weekend and in the future.
From Sunday, more than 240 additional services will run along the Sunbury–Cranbourne–Pakenham corridor every day, stopping at the five new underground stations with select services running the full length – including every 60 minutes from Sunbury.
This will increase to more than 1,000 extra weekly services along the corridor from The Big Switch on Sunday 1 February, when the Metro Tunnel is fully integrated into the network timetable.
The State Government is removing 110 level crossings by 2030, with 88 now gone for good.
Minister Williams said, “Making the Sunbury and Pakenham lines boom gate free ahead of the opening of the Metro Tunnel will boost safety and ease congestion throughout the area, as even more trains get set to run on the line.”
Member for Sunbury, Josh Bull, said, “Diggers Rest is now safer and has faster road connections thanks to the removal of the Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road level crossings.
“Removing these level crossings will ensure the town is prepared for future growth earmarked for north of Diggers Rest.”
