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 2km 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 4 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% 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 3 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.
In September 2021, we released the updated designs for the Preston and Bell stations and the surrounding open space. These designs are the result of online community engagement 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 removing 85 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne by 2025.
Stay informed
If you have any questions or would like more information about the project you can:
- email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
- call us on 1800 105 105, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- text PRESTON to 0428 581 917 for SMS construction alerts
Sign up for regular project email updates
Register for SMS construction alerts (mobile browsers only)
Current works notices
Works notice – Preston 24/7 works reminder
May 2022 works notices in اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ (Arabic), ελληνικά (Greek), italiano (Italian), 汉语 (Mandarin), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Works notice – Railway Place East and Showers Street, Preston closure
Works notice – Smith Street, Thornbury pedestrian crossing closure February to May 2022
Current disruptions
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.
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.
Bell Station, Preston – access and precinct changes
MERNDA LINE
Bell Station passengers will use temporary station facilities on the west side of the rail line, near Isaacs Street until late 2022.
Railway Place East, Preston – northbound road closure
MERNDA LINE
Railway Place will be closed to north-bound traffic between Esther Street and Oakover Road from Monday 31 May 2021 until late 2022.
Cramer Street, Preston – on street parking changes
MERNDA LINE
There will be no standing for vehicles on Cramer Street between Bond Street and St. Georges Road from Tuesday 14 September until late 2022.
Smith Street, Thornbury – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The Smith Street pedestrian crossing will be closed from Monday 7 February until late May 2022.
Railway Place East and Showers Street, Preston – road closure
The road and footpath at the corner of Railway Place east and Showers Street will be closed from Monday 9 May to Saturday 14 May.
Railway Reserve, Preston – bike path closure
MERNDA LINE
The Railway Reserve bike path will be closed between Regent Street and Murray Road from Monday 16 May to Monday 30 May.
Mernda Line – buses replace trains
MERNDA LINE
Buses replacing trains between Parliament and Reservoir at times from 9pm Tuesday 17 May to last service Sunday 29 May.
Cramer Street, Preston – level crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
Cramer Street, Preston will be closed at the level crossing from 9pm Tuesday 17 May to 6am Wednesday 18 May.
Clapham and Ethel streets, Thornbury – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The pedestrian rail crossing just north of Thornbury Station will be closed from Tuesday 17 May to late September.
Bell Street, Preston – level crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
Bell Street, Preston will be closed at the level crossing from 9pm Wednesday 18 May to 5am Thursday 19 May.
Oakover Road, Preston – level crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
Oakover Road, Preston will be closed at the level crossing from 12am to 9pm on Wednesday 18 May.
Murray Road, Preston – level crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
Murray Road, Preston will be closed at the level crossing at various times from Wednesday 18 May to Tuesday 31 May.
News
Featured video
Upcoming Preston works
We're removing 4 dangerous and congested Preston level crossings. Learn more about our upcoming works.
Image gallery
Preston – March 2022 update
Drone flight images of the Preston alignment from March 2022.
26 Mar 2022
Publications
Works notice – Upcoming 24 hour Preston works, May 2022
16 May 2022Buses will replace trains on the Mernda line for Preston Level Crossing Removal works from 9pm Tuesday 17 May to last service Sunday 29 May 2022.
Works notice – Preston 24/7 works reminder
13 May 2022The Victorian Government is removing four dangerous and congested level crossings at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road, and building new Bell and Preston stations....
Map
Cramer Street, Preston
Current events
Mother's Day at Preston
Write a message to your mum or mother figure on our message board in Preston Market and you can win a prize.
03 May 2022
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