The Brunt Road level crossing is gone for good with the new bridge over the rail line opening on the evening of Thursday 24 April.
This marks the sevety-sixth level crossing removed in Melbourne since 2015.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson announced work to connect Brunt Road with a new road bridge has been completed – giving drivers, cyclists and pedestrians a safer crossing over the Pakenham Line.
The new road bridge will drastically improve the journeys of the 8,400 drivers passing through each day and give locals a new cycling and walking connection to schools, shops and services on either side of the rail line.
Following a construction blitz, crews laid more than 2,400 tonnes of asphalt along the 570-metre bridge, measuring more than 10 metres high – and approximately 100 trees and 50,000 plants, shrubs and grasses are set to be planted along the new road bridge over the coming months.
“Removing the Brunt Road, Beaconsfield level crossing a year ahead of schedule is a win for all commuters – safety will be improved, and drivers will no longer get stuck at the boom gates,” Pakenham MP Emma Vulin said.
With traffic now flowing over the new Brunt Road bridge, works will begin to remove the congested level crossing at Station Street, Officer on Saturday 18 May – making the Pakenham Line one step closer to becoming level crossing-free by 2025.
Construction is also progressing on the nearby Station Street, Beaconsfield level crossing removal, which will be gone for good next year.
The State Govenrment says the removing of 76 level crossings has saved close to 50 hours of boom gate down time during the morning peak every day and allowed for additional train services across Melbourne.
Works are continuing at pace across Melbourne to remove another 10 level crossings before the end of the year, with 110 to go by 2030.
