The level crossings at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road in Preston are being removed.
The rail line will be raised over the roads on the Mernda line, delivering new open space underneath the two-kilometre rail bridge.
A shared walking and cycling path from Oakover Road through to Murray Road will connect locals to the new stations and open spaces.
The project will also deliver new stations at Preston and Bell.
The four level crossings will be removed simultaneously to minimise disruption to the community.
Around 82,000 vehicles pass through these level crossings on the Mernda line each day, with the boom gates down for up to 40 per cent of the morning peak.
These level crossings will be removed by the end of 2022 and the open space ready for locals to enjoy in 2023.
The Preston Open Space Advisory Panel (POSAP) was formed to help shape three areas of open space. The project team identified these areas where POSAP could have the most influence on design to create spaces by locals for locals.
The open space concept designs are the result of online community engagement activity conducted in April 2020 and a series of meetings with POSAP between May and November 2020.
On behalf of the Victorian Government, the Level Crossing Removal Project is overseeing the removal of 75 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne by 2025.
Current works notices
Works notice – Preston Level Crossing Removal Project Clinch Avenue traffic changes
Current disruptions
Railway Reserve Bike Path, Preston – shared use path closure
MERNDA LINE
The Railway Reserve Bike Path will be closed intermittently from Wednesday 30 September 2020 to late 2022.
Preston Oval, Preston – car park closure
MERNDA LINE
The car park between the rail line and oval pavilion will be closed from Tuesday 20 October 2020 to late 2022.
Showers Street, Preston – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The Showers Street, Preston pedestrian crossing will be closed from Monday 26 October 2020 to late 2022.
Preston Station – car park closures
MERNDA LINE
There will be car park closures around the Preston Station precinct, including the western and eastern station car parks from Friday 6 November 2020 to late 2022.
Edith Street, Preston – car park closure
MERNDA LINE
Car parks on the eastern side of Edith Street, Preston will be closed from Monday 16 November 2020 to late 2022.
Bell Station, Preston – car park closures
MERNDA LINE
There will be car park closures at Bell Station from Tuesday 12 January 2021 to late 2022.
Bruce Street, Preston – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The Bruce Street, Preston pedestrian crossing is closed from Monday 18 January 2021 to late 2022.
Clinch Avenue, Preston – northbound road closure
MERNDA LINE
Clinch Avenue will be closed to northbound traffic between Murray Road and Williams Street from Monday 3 May to late 2022.
Cramer Street, Preston – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The northern footpath at the Cramer Street pedestrian rail crossing will be closed from 7am Thursday 6 May 2021 to late 2022.
Bell Station, Preston – access and precinct changes
MERNDA LINE
Bell Station will be closed and passengers will use the temporary station facilities on the west side of the rail line, near Isaacs Street from Thursday 6 May to late 2022.
Preston Station – access and precinct changes
MERNDA LINE
There will be access changes around Preston Station from Thursday 6 May 2021 to late 2022 to allow for level crossing removal works.
News
Featured video
Preston May works reminder
Hear from our Preston Project Manager as he explains our upcoming works along the Mernda line this May.
Image gallery
Preston – February 2021
Progress images from works to remove four level crossings in Preston.
28 Feb 2021
POSAP Area 2 – Miller Street to Showers Street
Concept designs for the open space that will be created under the rail line.
07 Dec 2020
Publications
Works notice – Preston Level Crossing Removal Project Clinch Avenue traffic changes
27 Apr 2021To safely facilitate upcoming works within the rail corridor, Clinch Avenue will be closedto north bound traffic between Murray Road and Williams Street from Monday 3 May to late 2022.
Bell and Preston temporary stations fact sheet
23 Apr 2021There will be temporary Bell and Preston stations. This means that services along the Mernda line can continue throughout major works.