The State Government is to remove the Calder Park level crossing with early designs for a new road bridge over the Sunbury rail line released for community feedback.

The Government says that getting rid of the level crossing at Calder Park Drive will improve traffic flow, meaning the nearby level crossing at Holden Rd can be closed permanently.

Boom gates can be down for more than 20 per cent of the morning peak at these locations, when 25 trains pass through the crossings, causing delays for 10,000 vehicles each day.

More trains are planned to run on the line once the Metro Tunnel opens, so it’s essential this level crossing is removed to help ease congestion.

Since 2016 there have been three crashes in the project area, including one serious collision. The new road bridge ensures the area is designed for future growth and development, with a new shared use path to improve local connections and link to future walking and cycling paths.

This design also means the Calder Park Drive level crossing will be gone sooner and construction will be less disruptive for road and rail users.

The project complements future road upgrades in the area, with planning for the Calder Park Drive Interchange and the Bulla Bypass currently underway to improve travel times and journey reliability.

The project will improve access along the Calder Freeway, and the potential future Bulla Bypass will see a new road link from Sunbury and the northern suburbs.

It comes as works on the Sunbury Rd upgrade proceed, with crews working to widen the road, improving safety and easing congestion for more than 44,000 daily motorists by 2031.

Six level crossings are being removed on the Sunbury line, with three already gone for good, and works are underway to get rid of the Gap Road, Sunbury level crossing by the end of the year.

In addition, the Metro Tunnel and Sunbury Line Upgrade will make way for 113,000 extra peak hour passengers each week along the line. Other improvements include installing next-generation high-capacity signalling and extending platforms for new bigger trains.

Jacinta Allan, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, said:”Our massive pipeline of works in the west including level crossing removals, the Sunbury Line Upgrade and Metro Tunnel, will ensure the growing communities are better connected – whether travelling by road or by train.”