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 sewer pipe relocation works
Works notice – overnight deliveries at Preston Station in August
Works notice – Preston acquired property removal
Works notice – Thornbury Station rail communication upgrades
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 passengers will use temporary station facilities on the west side of the rail line, near Isaacs Street until 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.
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.
Edith Street, Preston – southbound road closure
MERNDA LINE
Edith Street will be closed to southbound traffic between Cramer Street and Bruce Street from Tuesday 1 June 2021 until late 2022.
Oakover Road, Preston – intermittent lane closures
MERNDA LINE
There be intermittent westbound lane closures on Oakover Road, Preston from Tuesday 13 July to Saturday 7 August.
Railway Place East, Preston – intermittent lane closures
MERNDA LINE
There will be intermittent lane closures on Railway Place East (northbound) between Miller Street and Oakover Road from Tuesday 13 July to Saturday 7 August.
Bell Street and Donovan Street, Preston – intersection closure
MERNDA LINE
The Bell Street and Donovan Street intersection will be closed to traffic from Saturday 17 July to end of July.
Bell Street and Donovan Street, Preston – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Bell Street and Donovan Street will also be closed intermittently from Thursday 29 July to end of August.
Donovan Street, Preston – traffic changes
MERNDA LINE
The width of Donovan Street will be reduced from Thursday 29 July to end of August.
Oakover Road and Railway Place East, Preston – intersection closure
MERNDA LINE
The intersection of Oakover Road and Railway Place East will be closed to traffic on Wednesday 4 August and Saturday 7 August.
Murray Road, Gilbert Road and Cramer Street, Preston – parking changes
MERNDA LINE
Temporary overnight no standing zones will be put in place from Thursday 5 August to late 2021.
Mernda line – buses replace trains
MERNDA LINE
Buses replace trains between Clifton Hill and Mernda from 9pm to the last service on selective weeknights throughout August.
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 – June 2021
Three piling rigs have taken up temporary residence near Preston and Bell stations.
15 Jun 2021
Preston – February 2021
Progress images from works to remove four level crossings in Preston.
28 Feb 2021
Publications
Works notice – Preston sewer pipe relocation works
02 Aug 2021From Thursday 5 August until mid- September the Preston Level Crossing Removal Team will be relocating a section of the sewer pipe to make way for the rail bridge.
Preston Level Crossing Removal Project – How we'll build the rail bridge
27 Jul 2021Read our fact sheet for more information on how we’ll build the new elevated rail in Preston and what to expect.