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 Street closure
Works notice – Smith Street, Thornbury pedestrian crossing closure February to May 2022
Works notice – Night works and road closures, Edith Street and Cramer Street
Works notice – Night works at Preston Station in early 2022
Works notice – Hardstand and L-Beam works at Donovan Street, Preston
Construction update – Preston January 2022 works
Works notice – We're halfway there – thank you Preston
Works notice – Traffic and driveway access changes on Edith Street
Works notice – Traffic and driveway access changes on Clinch Avenue and Murray Road
Works notice – Plenty Road, Preston temporary on-street parking closure
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.
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.
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 – night road closures
MERNDA LINE
Donovan Street will be closed and driveways will be blocked overnight for up to a week from Thursday 20 January, between 9pm and 5am.
Cramer Street, Preston – road and pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
Cramer Street will be closed at the level crossing at various times between Monday 31 January and Monday 14 February.
Edith Street, Preston – road closure
MERNDA LINE
Edith Street will be closed to traffic from 7pm Monday 7 February to 7am Tuesday 15 February.
Smith Street, Thornbury – pedestrian crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
The Smith Street pedestrian crossing will be closed from Monday 7 February until late May 2022.
Clinch Avenue, Preston – overnight road closure
MERNDA LINE
Clinch Avenue will be closed to traffic from William Street to Murray Road from 8pm to 8am on Monday 8 February to Friday 11 February and 8pm to 8am on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 February.
Murray Road, Preston – level crossing closure
MERNDA LINE
Murray Road, Preston will be closed at the level crossing from 7pm Monday 14 February to 6am on Wednesday 16 February.
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 – late November to early December works
Photos of works at Preston in late November and early December.
07 Dec 2021
Publications
Works notice – Bell Street closure
25 Jan 2022Bell Street will be closed at the level crossing from Thursday 3 February to Saturday 5 February, between 7pm to 6am, while we continue works on the new rail bridge including installing new screens.
Works notice – Smith Street, Thornbury pedestrian crossing closure February to May 2022
24 Jan 2022As part of the Preston Level Crossing Removal Project, we are improving safety at the pedestrian crossing at Smith Street, Thornbury.