The dangerous and congested Hallam Road level crossing is removed by building a rail bridge over the Pakenham line and local commuters will soon enjoy a new Hallam Station.
Removing the level crossing will provide critical infrastructure to get people home sooner and safer in one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing communities. More than 20,000 vehicles travel through the crossing each day and the boom gates are down for more than a third of the two-hour morning peak. Delays will increase over time as more trains run on the Pakenham line in the future.
With Hallam Road providing a key connection to the South Gippsland and Princes highways, removing the level crossing will reduce travel times between Cranbourne, Spring Square and Hampton Park Town Centre.
Site investigations and engineering assessments have found the rail bridge design is the best way to remove the level crossing. It will also deliver a new elevated Hallam Station, with better facilities for the 2200 passengers who use the station each day and improved pedestrian and cycling connections around the station precinct.
The rail bridge design minimises disruption to road and rail users and enables the final section of Hallam Road to be duplicated in the future.
Other designs were ruled out due to a high-water table, an increased flood risk and impacts to the Hallam Main Drain. Alternatives would also take a year longer to construct, require the compulsory acquisition of businesses, and have permanent impacts to the station’s car park and bus stops.
The project is one of several upgrades underway that will improve the flow of traffic for Hallam Road. Work is underway to add two new lanes on Hallam Road between Ormond Road and South Gippsland Highway and install traffic lights at the intersection of South Gippsland Highway, Hallam Road and Evans Road.
Hallam North Road in Endeavour Hills will also be widened between Heatherton Road and James Cook Drive, and the roundabout at Heatherton Road replaced with traffic lights. This will improve travel times, offer an alternative to the South Gippsland Freeway and link to the freeway network.
A massive upgrade of the Pakenham line is underway – nine level crossings have already been removed and a further eight are set to go. The removals also pave the way for more train services when the Metro Tunnel opens – linking the Cranbourne/Pakenham and Sunbury lines to add space for more than half a million extra trips on the network each week.
Early works on the Hallam level crossing are expected to commence in 2020, with the level crossing to be removed in 2022.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“Building the rail bridge will get people home sooner and safer in one of the fastest-growing communities.”
“We’re removing 17 level crossings on the Pakenham line, transforming travel in the south-east.”
Quote attributable to Member for Narre Warren North Luke Donnellan
“As the Casey community continues to grow, we need better-flowing roads and that are fit for purpose – that’s why we’re removing this level crossing and investing in critical upgrades for Hallam Road.”
Source: Victorian Government
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