By Brendan Rees
The State Government has announced it will do away with the Clyde Road level crossing in Berwick by constructing a road underpass with works to begin next year.
But the design has fallen short of Casey Council’s hopes for a ‘rail under road’ level crossing and the delivery of a new railway station – all of which “have been ignored.”
The government says detailed engineering assessments and site investigations identified a road underpass as the best design.
The level crossing will be gone by 2022.
“Removing the dangerous and congested Clyde Road level crossing will mean less congestion for the 22,000 vehicles who use the crossing every day with minimal disruption for locals,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.
A road underpass also means Berwick Station won’t need to be knocked down, as the government believes this would cause further disruption for passengers, and allow the Commonwealth Government to deliver its commuter car parking and road upgrade commitments.
Other designs would take up to a year longer to complete, and require compulsory acquisition of private properties and significant underground service relocation, including the Longford gas main.
However Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon said although the level crossing removal was welcomed, the road underpass solution would result in “suboptimal outcomes” for the community.
Cr Stapledon says it will prevent the area’s prospect of being a “vibrant and successful” health and education precinct, as envisaged in Plan Melbourne.
“The existing rail corridor creates a barrier to economic growth and investment, with impaired connections and poor amenity and this solution entrenches those constraints,” Cr Stapledon said.
“Council recommended three future-proofed solutions to the Level Crossing Removal Authority, including rail under road and station upgrade options, but all of these have been ignored.
“Berwick is a premium station, requires upgrading and must be brought into the scope of the crossing removal project,” she said.
Cr Stapledon added: “Despite little engagement and virtually no feedback being listened to thus far, Council will persist in engaging with advocating for an outcome that delivers maximum benefit to the community.”
The government says other designs would have impacted commuters by shutting the Pakenham line between Pakenham and Dandenong for up to two months.
Meanwhile along the Pakenham line, the removal of the congested level crossing at Cardinia Road will begin later this year.
