By Belinda Nolan
PLANNING for the removal of a notorious level crossing in St Albans will go ahead – but it could be delayed by the floods, the State Government has intimated.
The Coalition last week re-affirmed its commitment to fund a grade separation at the Main Rd site, but hinted the project could be delayed by the flood relief effort.
A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder told Star the State Government was hopeful it could allocate money towards planning for the project, but faced a hefty bill following the floods.
“While the recent floods will be costly, the Government still hopes to allocate some funding in the 2011/12 State Budget to plan the removal of the Main Rd East and Main Rd West St Albans level crossing,” the spokesman said.
The comments have sparked concern among traders in St Albans, who fear the project may never start.
The traders were alarmed by rumours the newly elected government had put the grade separation on hold.
St Albans Traders Association secretary Asip Demiri said the community was becoming increasingly frustrated by delays in removing the notorious level crossing, which has been the site of numerous deaths, serious injuries and collisions over the past decade.
Mr Demiri said traders did not understand why the Coalition would be allocating money towards planning when the previous government and VicRoads had recently completed a study into different options for the grade separation.
“Planning has already been done. We’ve had a gutful of planning, what we want to see now is some action,” Mr Demiri said.
In November, traders welcomed the State Government’s announcement that it would commit $82.5 million towards the grade separation and lobby the Federal Government to contribute the same amount. The Coalition also promised to begin planning and construction to remove the level crossing if elected.
Star asked the State Government to provide further information on the grade separation, including how much money would be allocated and when work would commence. However, a response was not received before deadline.
