Liam McNally
Land will need to be compulsorily acquired to make way for two road bridges that will replace level crossings in Diggers Rest the state government has confirmed.
Early designs for the two road bridges were released last week. At Old Calder Highway the road will be diverted west over the rail line south of Stan Payne Reserve, before turning north to connect with Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, between Pepper Close and Welcome Road. The new road bridge will include a separated cycling path over the rail line.
The Old Calder Freeway route is something a number of Diggers Rest residents have previously raised concerns about.
Star weekly reported that residents became concerned about the level crossing removal proposals after a site investigation work notification letter sparked fears that if the plan goes ahead certain properties may be up for compulsory acquisition by the government.
These fears led to a town meeting following which preferred alternative routes were presented to the Level Crossing Removal team.
The Diggers Rest resident who organised the town meeting, Bob Rau, said he was “stunned” by the compulsory acquisition announcement.
“There was a request only a couple of weeks ago encouraging us to write submissions to what we thought for the crossing – of which 92 submissions have been made – none of which have been recognised,” he said.
“Everyone supported the concept of the crossing going, but no one supported the plan which is now to go ahead.
“Everyone thought it would create a traffic catastrophe.”
Mr Rau said the Diggers Rest community has been offered no face-to-face meeting since the submissions and he fears the government was just “ticking boxes” by inviting feedback.
At Watsons Road a new road bridge with a pedestrian path will be constructed.
The new bridges will open and the level crossings will be gone in 2025.
Currently, around 6300 vehicles use the level crossings daily and up to 27 trains travel through them during the morning peak, meaning the boom gates are down for approximately 36 minutes.
More trains will be able to to run more often on the Sunbury line when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025.
