The Brumby Labor Government is investigating a grade separation at the busy Main Road level crossing in St Albans as a way to reduce congestion and improve safety at the intersection. 

At an announcement last week in St Albans, Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said a grade separation was being considered after VicRoads studies and thorough community consultation found the originally proposed local bypass was not the best option. 

“We’re taking action to improve the Main Road level crossing because we understand how important road safety is to the local community and we know people want to spend more time with family and less time in traffic,” Mr Pallas said.

 “We’ve heard the concerns of the community. While a local bypass would have reduced congestion, our studies found it could have had a negative impact on properties and businesses in the area, as well as the local environment.

 “Investigations have therefore already started into the possibility of a grade separation at this notorious location.” 

Mr Pallas said a grade separation of the Main Road crossing would allow the railway line to run under the roadway, providing safer road conditions and significantly reduce congestion.  

Federal Member for Gorton Brendan O’Connor welcomed the new study. “This is a great step towards addressing this notorious level crossing, which has been a significant concern for the community,” Mr O’Connor said.

 “I pay tribute to those community activists, in particular Sebastian Agricola and Asip Demiri from the St Albans Traders, who have campaigned so long and hard for this outcome"

St Albans Traders Association president Sebastian Agricola said the grade separation would be the greatest stimulus package St Albans would see.

“Forget throwing money at people, this is long term infrastructure that will provide benefits for years” he said.

The engineering study, due for completion within 12 months would, according to Mr Pallas, investigate “how” not “whether” the grade separation would be built.  The funding for the operation would then need to be considered in upcoming budgets.