UPGRADING the St Albans level crossing to run underneath Main Rd would be preferable to installing a rail bridge above the street, according to Brimbank City Council.
Last week the council officially adopted a formal position on the St Albans Grade Separation Business Case being prepared by VicRoads.
St Albans traders and residents have been lobbying various State Government to fix the infamous crossing – which has taken more than 15 lives.
Last week VicRoads held two information sessions at St Albans Library where they displayed the two proposed options for upgrading the level crossing, named the rail over road and rail under road options.
The rail over plan would see the train tracks re-located on a bridge above Main Rd.
The rail under option would see the train line and station lowered underneath Main Rd.
Brimbank City Council said they had thrown their support behind the rail under proposal because it dequately addressed design principles important to St Albans – although VicRoads would make the final decision.
A council report said the rail over option failed to prioritise safety as a design construction.
Asip Demiri from the St Albans Traders Association said the State Government has failed the western suburbs funding upgrades to three level crossings in the eastern suburbs this year, ahead of St Albans.
Mr Demiri said fixing crossings in the East left him speechless, when St Albans desperately needed an upgrade.
“Put all together, the crossings in the East haven’t had half the casualties of the 18 deaths in St Albans,” Mr Demiri said.
“Maybe the government and the minister think the people of St Albans should be grateful for having running water and electricity”
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the State Government already has the Main Rd, St Albans crossing on its list of 12 level crossings to remove, the largest level crossing removal program in the state’s history.
