MACLEOD, VIC. — Final designs to remove the Ruthven St level crossing in Macleod were released yesterday.
Removing the dangerous and congested Ruthven St level crossing will:
• slash 30 minutes of boom gate downtime during the morning peak
• cut travel times for around 12,600 drivers each weekday.
State government representatives say that community feedback has shaped the final designs, which will create safer connections for locals, including the installation of traffic loops that will trigger traffic lights along Ruthven St.
The rail bridge design will connect Rosanna Parklands with Ellesmere Pde and Ruthven St. It will feature native plants and seating, and a new walking and cycling path will be built along Ellesmere Pde, connecting Macleod and Rosanna.
More than 25,000 trees, native shrubs, flowering plants, and grasses will be planted across the project area.
Major construction will begin later this year, with trains running on the new rail bridge from next year.
Passengers are set to benefit from extra services on the Hurstbridge Line with trains every 20 minutes to Eltham all weekend, and services running every 10 minutes on average between the CBD and Clifton Hill.
Continued investment in the corridor has unlocked capacity to run more than 1000 train services every week.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams said: “We’re making it easier for Victorians to get around Melbourne’s north east – making Macleod boom gate free, building North East Link, and running extra services on the Hurstbridge Line.”
“Major construction begins later this year, with Macleod boom gate-free by 2027.”
Ivanhoe MLA Anthony Carbines said: “Thanks to everyone who had their say on the early designs, with more than 400 pieces of feedback from the community helping to shape these final designs.”
