Level crossing removals in Merri-bek

Any noise or disruptions issues relating to the Level Crossing Removal works should be reported directly to the LXRP on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Bell to Merri-bek questions and answers: Bell to Merri-bek - Level Crossing Removal Project website

Glenroy Road questions and answers: Glenroy Road - Level Crossing Removal Project website

 

For more information use the following contact details.

Phone: 1800 105 105 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Email: contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Website: levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Any noise or disruptions issues relating to the Level Crossing Removal works should be reported directly to the LXRP on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

For service disruption updates visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions

Plan your travel on public transport using the PTV Journey Planner.

From Tuesday 6 April until Friday 16 April, the project will be conducting 24-hour works within the rail corridor.

• Pascoe Vale Road southbound lane closure between Langton Street and Anselm Grove from Monday 22 March to Friday 16 April
• Electric Street closure:

*between Graham and Waverly streets from Monday 22 March to Friday 16 April

*between Graham and Daley streets from Friday 9 April to Sunday 11 April

• Electric Street on-street parking removed from Monday 22 March to Friday 16 April
• Daley Street northern side on-street parking unavailable from Monday 22 March to Friday 16 April

Buses will replace trains on the Craigieburn line from 8:15pm Tuesday 6 April until last service Thursday 15 April 2021 during 24 hour works. To plan your journey visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007

Closures to the Upfield Bike Path  - Coburg and Brunswick

A section of the Upfield Bike Path, between O’Hea Street in Coburg and Albion Street in Brunswick, will be closed from Thursday 6 February 2020 until mid-2021.

The following level crossings are being removed on the Upfield line.

Bell to Merri-bek:

• Bell Street, Coburg
• Munro Street, Coburg
• Reynard Street, Coburg
• Moreland Road, Brunswick

The Bell to Merri-bek level crossings will be replaced by a rail over road design.

The following level crossings are being removed on the Craigieburn line.

Glenroy:

• Glenroy Road, Glenroy

Level crossing at Glenroy Road will be removed by lowering the rail line under the road into an open trench.

As a key stakeholder, but not the project owner, Council is not responsible for the planning or delivery of the level crossing removals.

We continue to advocate to the Level Crossing Removal Project for the best outcomes for our community and city.

Council welcomes the removal of level crossings in Merri-bek and wants to the projects to be well-planned, delivered to the highest quality, and constructed with the minimum amount of disruption.

On behalf of the Victorian Government, the Level Crossing Removal Project is removing the level crossings at Bell Street, Munro Street and Reynard Street in Coburg, and Merri-bek Road in Brunswick by raising the rail line over the road.

The rail over road design will deliver new community open spaces, improved east–west connections and improvements to the Upfield Bike Path. The four level crossings will be removed at the same time to minimise disruption to the community.

Two new stations will be built at Coburg and Merri-bek, while retaining and repurposing the existing heritage-listed station buildings.

Removing these level crossings will improve congestion for vehicles that pass through the crossing’s each day as well as significantly improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. 

Construction for this project commenced in 2019, the boom gates will be removed in 2020 and the project completed in 2021.

Bell to Merri-bek Project Timeline

2018

• Site investigations

Mid 2018

• Community information sessions

Late 2018

• Announcement of Reynard and Munro Street removal

Mid 2019

• Community Information Sessions to gather ideas on what the community want to see in the open space underneath the new elevated rail line along the corridor
• New Merri-bek and Coburg station designs revealed
• Design development on the rail under road solution

2019

• Open Space designs released
• Community Information Sessions, as well as the collection of more feedback via online and in person
• Contract signed for Bell to Merri-bek level crossing removal

Mid 2020

• Construction taking place on the Bell to Merri-bek project

Late 2020

• Boom gates removed

2021

• Construction completes

On behalf of the Victorian Government, the Level Crossing Removal Project is removing the level crossing at Glenroy Road, Glenroy by lowering the rail line under the road. The project will also deliver a new Glenroy Station. 

Removing this level crossing will improve congestion for vehicles that pass through the crossing each day as well as significantly improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Glenroy Project Timeline

2018

• Site investigations

2019

• Community engagement on what's important to the Glenroy community
• Design development on the rail under road solution

Mid 2020

• Further community engagement on key defined elements of the design

Late 2020

• Further community consultation
• Finalise design
• Works proposed to start

2022

• Level crossing removed 

Key Council advocacy requests

• Ongoing consultation with the Merri-bek community and Council
• Provide adequate funding, thought and focus to the newly created ‘left under’ spaces (for example, trees and landscaping, active and passive public spaces, management and maintenance)
• Transform the Upfield shared path (width and landscape), including separation of bike and pedestrian paths
• Incorporate extended pedestrian plazas at Coburg and Merri-bek Stations
• Include 5 vehicle, bike and pedestrian crossings at Bell Street, Victoria Street, Munro Street, Reynard Street and Merri-bek Road
• Transform existing Victoria Street underpass into a shared street for pedestrians, bikes and vehicles
• Provide high quality rail channel viaducts, higher off ground (up to 7 metres high), allowing greater light penetration below and mitigating overlooking concerns
• Retain the Munro Street, Coburg signal box, which has local heritage significance
• Community consultation on the future of Gandolfo Gardens, including retention of as many trees as possible
• Retain the Canoe Tree Memorial in Gandolfo Gardens

Gandolfo Gardens

• We advocated to the LXRP to actively engage with community and incorporate their ideas into future designs of the VicTrack owned Gandolfo Gardens, including preservation of vegetation and overall use of the space.
• We advocated to LXRP to retain as many trees as possible in the VicTrack owned Gandolfo Gardens, and for it to stand by its commitment that no trees will be removed to create space for storage materials, and that trees will only be removed to enable the construction of the elevated rail structure.
• We successfully advocated for the preservation of the Canoe Tree memorial in the VicTrack owned Gandolfo Gardens.

Designs

• Successful advocacy for elements of the long awaited Bell to Merri-bek project designs including:
  • Pedestrian plazas at Coburg and Merri-bek Stations
  • A separated bike and pedestrian path
  • Five vehicle, bike and pedestrian crossings
  • Nature-play community space
  • Preservation of heritage buildings at Coburg and Merri-bek stations.
• Continued advocacy for improvements to the Bell to Merri-bek project designs including:
  • Inclusion of escalators at Coburg station or consideration to future proof for this important growth area
  • Separated bike and pedestrian paths around the stations to improve safety and commuter access and;
  • Further extensions to the Upfield shared path.

Council Advocacy

2020 February/March

• Council investigated LXRP proposed cycling routes in response to community concerns regarding the closure of the Upfield Shared Path by the LXRP during the grade separation works between O'Hea and Tinning Streets.
• Council thanked the Upfield Corridor Coalition for the considerable work they have done into the investigation of alternate cycling routes.
• Council's investigation into the tree removal at Gandolfo Gardens by the LXRP has now concluded. Three trees have been removed in addition to those shown on plans submitted to Heritage Victoria. Further legal advice obtained by Council holds that the tree removal did not constitute an illegal act. Council is further exploring alternative compensative outcomes following the removal of the additional trees at Gandolfo Gardens.

2019 December

• Sharing of documents released by LXRP in response to a Freedom of Information Request by a member of the community:
  • LXRP Bell to Merri-bek Project Requirements (PDF 766Kb)
  • LXRP Urban Design Guidelines - Coburg (PDF 11Mb)
  • LXRP Urban Design Guidelines - Merri-bek (PDF 10Mb)
  • LXRP Integrated Art Guidelines (PDF 25Mb)

2019 October

• Advocacy to Minister for Planning regarding concerns about change to submission process for proposed changes to the registration of the Upfield Railway Line Precinct in the Victorian Heritage Register. Media release issued.

2019 August

• Special Council meeting held on 22 August regarding LXRP’s permit application to Heritage Victoria to demolish the Munro Street signal box. Resolution to submit application to Heritage Victoria to oppose the demolition. Media release issued.
• Advocacy regarding LXRP community consultation on Vic Track owned Gandolfo Gardens. Media release issued.

2019 July/August

• Formation of the LXRP Community Advocacy Group (CARG), comprising members of the community, local groups, the Mayor, Councillors and officers. The group meet regularly to progress advocacy effort focusing on enhanced project outcomes.
• Council commits $30,000 for community advocacy actions.
• Council helps facilitate a public meeting, which is set up and run by the Upfield Corridor Coalition community group.

2019 July

• Council writes to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan and LXRP CEO Kevin Devlin expressing concern regarding the lack of consultation and seeking assurances regarding future community engagement.

2019 June

• • Council expresses its disappointment at the lack of consultation by the LXRP on the station designs. Media release issued.

2018 November

• Council supports removal of four level crossings on the Upfield line.
• Council requests LXRP conduct further community consultation on proposed designs.
• Council advocates for a final design that incorporates best practice technologies to minimise noise and visual impact, creates new open spaces and improves links and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists.

2018 July

• Council advocates for Reynard and Munro Street crossings to be removed as part of the Bell and Merri-bek project.
• Council’s advocacy position widely publicised including presence at the LXRP’s community consultation.

2018 April

• Advocacy position tailored to each design option (elevated or trench) that maximises place and community benefit no matter which option LXRP use.
• Council seeks meeting with the Minister for Transport to present Council’s advocacy case and seek confirmation about LXRP’s community engagement program timing.
• Council participates in LXRP’s community engagement to ensure Council’s position on both design options is made known to the community.

2017 June

• Council seeks independent technical feasibility assessment of elevated and trench design solutions.

2017 February

• Council endorsed a set of principles and place specific outcomes to guide Council's negotiations with the LXRP and State Government agencies, to achieve optimal outcomes for the community.

2016/2017

• Council advocates to LXRP for grade separation at Glenroy, Merri-bek and Coburg crossings.

2015

• Council advocates to LXRP for grade separation at Glenroy, Merri-bek and Coburg crossings

Learn more

Level Crossing Removal Authority – learn more about the Victorian State Government level crossing removal project.

Media releases

See the Council media releases issued about the level crossing removal project.

Council meeting minutes

See the Council Meeting minutes.

General:

• LXRP Integrated Art Guidelines (PDF 25Mb)

Bell to Merri-bek:

• LXRP Bell to Merri-bek Project Requirements (PDF 766Kb)
• LXRP Urban Design Guidelines - Coburg (PDF 11Mb)
• LXRP Urban Design Guidelines - Merri-bek (PDF 10Mb)

Glenroy Road, Glenroy:

• Glenroy Rd Level Crossing Removal Advocacy flyer - PDF (313.18 KB) (PDF 847Kb)