Level crossing removals at Lilydale and Mooroolbark are one step closer with site establishment now underway.
Both level crossings clog streets and put lives at risk, with 13 crashes in the past decade, one of them fatal.
More than 53,000 vehicles use the crossings each day and boom gates can be down for up to a quarter of the morning peak.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said the arrival of construction crews and site offices was an exciting moment for local residents who want both level crossings gone for good.
“I thank everyone for their feedback and contribution to the project designs,” he said.
“The community said they wanted these dangerous and congested level crossings gone for good, modern stations and community spaces and that’s what we’re delivering.”
Two new elevated stations will be built at Mooroolbark and Lilydale, and a new multi-deck carpark at Mooroolbark is also being built, which will see commuter parking doubling to 900 spaces.
Crews have started relocating underground services, installing temporary fencing and piecing together a 30-metre-tall piling rig in the Lilydale Station carpark.
From next week, the piling rig will dig a test pile around 22 metres into the ground to help engineers confirm the depth of the foundations for the new rail bridge over Maroondah Highway.
Major construction of the new rail bridges will begin at the end of this year.
More than 650 pieces of community feedback will be incorporated into the design of the new stations and open spaces.
In line with the majority of feedback, the project will create community spaces connected to the new stations.
Approximately 60,000 trees, plants, shrubs and grasses will be planted in a bid to maintain the existing character of the area.
These level crossing removal works are the first part of upgrades along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.
In total, eight level crossings are being removed on the two lines.
The level crossing removal project is removing 75 level crossings by 2025, with 35 already gone.
The Mooroolbark and Lilydale level crossings will be removed in 2022.
The community will have more opportunities to learn about the project and view plans as they are developed over coming months at levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
