Councillors voted to take urgent action to improve the safety at the level crossing during last week’s meeting.
Community calls to reopen the underpass gained momentum when councillors supported a motion to examine the possibility of digging out the non-disability-compliant underpass.
The council will request a meeting with the Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports, Martin Pakula, Greens MP Colleen Hartland and the MP for Williamstown, Wade Noonan, to discuss the future of the crossing.
A letter will also be sent to Transport Minister Lynne Kosky and Connex CEO Bruce Hughes to request their support for new safety features at the crossing.
Cr Janis Rossiter said the issue had been on and off the council’s agenda since the underpass was closed in 1997.
“Once again we are going to reopen the lines of communication between all concerned parties,” she said.
“We must end the concerns, enough is enough.”
The motion passed by councillors also called for improved signage, line marking and barriers to alert road users of the crossing and approaching trains and a thorough safety audit of the site.
Cr Michelle MacDonald said the present safety devices were not getting the message through to road users.
Cr MacDonald said any further safety improvements should also be made in conjunction with a public campaign by the Maribyrnong Safety Taskforce to raise the awareness of safety at the level crossing.
