Commuters are being warned of bus replacements for the Lilydale line until the last service on Sunday 24 July as it will be lowered into a 1.3-kilometre rail trench and new community open spaces will be created above it between Surrey Hills and Mont Albert.
Construction crews have been working around the clock to remove dangerous and congested level crossings in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert as part of a six-week winter construction blitz.
“We are getting on with removing dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne, with 64 already gone for good and another 21 to go by 2025 – making travel safer and smoother,” said Acting Premier and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan.
“We’re creating safer connections whether travelling by foot, car or train and we thank the local communities for their patience as we get on with delivering these vital works.”
The project includes a new Union Station – replacing the existing Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations with a single, modern station.
The construction blitz started last week, including the arrival of four 350-tonne to 750-tonne cranes, which will lift giant bridge beams into place at each road to allow for the relocation of essential services in the rail corridor. The level crossings removals at Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road were fast-tracked and will now be gone for good in 2023.
Four level crossings on the Lilydale line are already gone for good, with planning underway to remove another three in addition to Surrey Hills and Mont Albert, making the Lilydale line level crossing free by 2025.
