The Andrews Labor Government will fast-track the removal of the Abbotts Road level crossing to reduce congestion and make Dandenong South safer, sooner.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan has announced that contracts for the removal of a dozen level crossings across Melbourne – including Abbotts Road – have now been signed.

An Alliance led by McConnell Dowell, Arup and Mott McDonald will remove the dangerous and congested crossing by building a rail bridge over Abbotts Road, removing the congested level crossing forever.

Work will start this year and be complete in 2019, with construction crews now aiming to have the boom gates gone by the end of next year.

If the Alliance meets strict performance measures in delivery of this project, it will retain the contract to then remove the level crossings at Aviation Road in Laverton, Ferguson Street in Williamstown, and Cherry and Werribee Streets in Werribee.

This massive pipeline of level crossing removals will create thousands of local jobs, and provide skills and opportunities to hundreds of apprentices, trainees and cadets through the Major Projects Skills Guarantee.

The Labor Government isn’t wasting a moment getting rid of Melbourne’s 50 worst level crossings – ten are already gone and work is underway at a further 13, with up to 28 set to be removed by the end of 2018.

For more information or to sign up for updates, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.