One of Victoria’s most congested level crossings is now gone for good, with trains travelling over the new rail bridge at Toorak Road for the first time yesterday morning.

The level crossing is the 35^th level crossing to go under the Andrews Labor Government and has been removed six months ahead of schedule.

Crews worked around the clock for the past 9 days to remove the boom gates, lay new tracks, install wiring and signalling and connect the new rail bridge to the Glen Waverley Line. From today, Toorak Rd will be reopened, with cars no longer facing boom gate delays.

Strict protocols are in place on all Major Transport Infrastructure Authority worksites to protect the health and safety of construction workers and the community, and are consistent with the advice from the Chief Health Officer.

This includes modifying construction activities to allow social distancing and providing extra protection for workers who need to work in proximity for short periods of time. There are also enhanced industrial cleaning and additional hygiene measures in place.

The Toorak Road / Monash Freeway interchange is one of the most congested intersections in Melbourne. Prior to its removal, the level crossing was a major bottleneck with boom gates down for around 35 per cent of the morning peak, causing delays and frustration for the 37,000 vehicles travelling through the crossing each day.

The new rail bridge was largely constructed with 40 locally manufactured L-beams forming the bridge, each up to 31 metres long and weighing up to 128 tonnes. Works on open space will be complete in 2021.

This is one of many major milestones reached on Victoria’s Big Build program, as works continue to deliver the Labor Government’s $70 billion infrastructure program.

The Metro Tunnel Project’s first two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), Joan and Meg, have both broken through at South Kensington. The remaining two TBMs, Alice and Millie, are being assembled at Anzac Station, with preparations underway for both machines to be launched in the coming weeks.

Workers on the Regional Rail Revival program have upgraded four level crossings on the Warrnambool line as part of the $114 million Warrnambool Line Upgrade. While the North East Link Project is continuing vital early works, moving and protecting 34 kilometres of gas, water and sewer pipes to make way for major construction in 2021.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“Work looks a little different on our big build – with extra physical distancing precautions in place due to coronavirus, so we can protect our workers and protect their jobs.”

“We’ve removed 35 dangerous and congested level crossings and are now almost half way to delivering on our promise of removing 75 level crossings by 2025.”