The next major phase of works at the Reservoir level crossing removal site will kick off tomorrow – allowing construction crews to ramp up work and get on and remove this notorious crossing for good.

To enable the next phase of works, the High Street intersection will be closed to traffic at the level crossing from 9:00pm tomorrow, reopening in late December.

Trains will continue to operate for the majority of this time and Reservoir station will remain open, with detours in place for road traffic and continued changes in place for pedestrians.

Detours will be via Keon Parade and Cheddar Road in the north, and via Spring Street and Murray Road in the south. Drivers should allow up to 15 minutes extra to travel the east-west detours at peak times of day.

During this time construction crews will reconfigure the road and build two, 185-metre-long steel bridge segments over the intersection.

On average, 36,000 vehicles travel through the notorious Reservoir level crossing every weekday, where High Street, Cheddar Road and Spring Street intersect. The six boom gates at this intersection can be down for 24-minutes during the two-hour morning peak.

In the past decade there were three recorded collisions, a fatality and 26 near misses at the level crossing. This includes collision between a train and car earlier this year.

The Reservoir level crossing removal and new station are scheduled to be complete in 2020. Raising the rail line over the road will offer the opportunity to develop public open space below and beside the rail bridge, including walking and cycling paths, landscaping and a public plaza for the community.

Work to improve safety and deliver more trains on the Mernda line, used by 33,000 passengers each weekday, is continuing with another four level crossing removals and new stations at Bell and Preston planned.

During the intersection closure, locals will be able to watch the bridge take shape from a range of public viewing areas.

For more information about the level crossing removal project visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Treasurer and Member for Preston Robin Scott

“No Government has removed this many level crossings this quickly – 29 are gone and Reservoir will soon join them.”

“It won’t be long until we can finally say goodbye to the dangerous and congested Reservoir level crossing – this intense period of construction is going to see the area transformed.”

“The progress at Reservoir so far has been phenomenal, I’m looking forward to the next phase of work taking place.”