By ALESHA CAPONE
A STATE Opposition plan to remove a pair of dangerous level crossings in St Albans has been praised by the Brimbank community.
Last week, the Labor Party launched a proposal to upgrade 50 hazardous level crossings across Victoria between 2014 and 2022 – including the notorious intersection at Main Rd East and West – if they are elected next year.
It is understood the project will be an underpass costing an estimated $175 million.
The Furlong Rd crossing has also been earmarked for elimination.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews told Star that Labor would create a body called Infrastructure Victoria to determine in what order the level crossings would be upgraded.
“Some of these, particularly in the West, have been the subject of really tragic incidents, and we will waste no time in allocating the money and removing these level crossings,” he said.
St Albans Traders Association president Sebastian Agricola said he felt “very pleased” after the Opposition released their plans.
“It is consistent with Labor’s position prior to the last election when they had allocated funding and policy to remove the Main Rd crossing,” he said.
“We’re just sick of it. It’s a massive inconvenience and that’s a disincentive to use it.
“It’s also a killer crossing, because a lot of people have died there.”
Dianne Dejanovic, whose son Christian was killed at the Main Rd crossing last year, said she placed flowers at the site every week.
“I’m really pleased Labor’s come up with this plan and I would be interested to see what transport experts have to say,” she said.
Ms Dejanovic said St Albans MP Marlene Kairouz and others in the community have been campaigning to get the Main Rd crossing fixed “for a long time”.
Earlier this year, the State Government announced $52 million for pre-construction works and removal of seven Victorian level crossings, including the Main Rd one.
The Labor transport plan has also proposed building a tolled West Gate Distributor from the West Gate Freeway to the Port of Melbourne to take 5000 trucks off the West Gate Bridge each day.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said in addition to removing trucks from the inner Western Suburb’s roads, this would benefit the Brimbank area.
“I’m keenly aware this will make it easier for people to travel between Footscray and Sunshine,” she said.
