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 – Bell Station, Preston October night works
Works notice – Plenty Road, Preston temporary on-street parking closure
Works notice – Power pole works at Oakover Road and Railway Parade East
Works notice – Rail communication upgrades at Thornbury Station
Works notice – Preston service investigation works and rail communications upgrades
Works notice – Hardstand construction from Bell Street to Bruce Street during September
Works notice – Preston Station overnight deliveries September
Works notice – Preston sewer pipe relocation works
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.
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.
Croxton Station, Northcote – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The pedestrian rail crossing north of Croxton Station will be closed intermittently from Monday 20 August to mid October.
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.
Donovan Street, Preston – road closure
MERNDA LINE
Donovan Street will be closed between Emery Street and Bell Street from Saturday 8 October to Tuesday 19 October.
News
Featured video
Preston – open space designs
See the designs for new open spaces being created under the elevated rail line as part of the Preston Level Crossing Removal Project.
Image gallery
Preston – open space designs
Designs of the open space being delivered as part of the Preston Level Crossing Removal Project.
13 Sep 2021
Publications
Works notice – Plenty Road, Preston temporary on-street parking closure
11 Oct 2021Overnight deliveries and installation of L-Beams (large concrete bridge segments that form the new rail bridge) will commence from Tuesday 12 October 2021.
Works notice – Bell Station, Preston October night works
08 Oct 2021The rail bridges on the Preston Level Crossing Removal Project will begin to take shape with the delivery of bridge beams to the Bell Station precinct, between Bell Street and Esther Street.