Noble Park is one step closer to being free from dangerous level crossings, with the first column now in place for elevated rail.

Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, today visited a work site near Mons Parade to view works in progress for the landmark project, which will remove nine level crossings on the Dandenong line and create 22.5 hectares of new open space and parkland.

Motorists are constantly frustrated by boom gates down for more than half the morning peak – including a massive 73 minutes at Heatherton Road and 72 minutes at Corrigan Road.

The very first column for the local area was raised last weekend along the rail corridor and will support Noble Park’s new elevated station.

However most of the area’s 90 columns – known as piers – will be made on site, with concrete poured into moulds and left to set.

More than 350 columns in total will support the rail line between Caulfield and Dandenong, with several already installed at Murrumbeena, where a narrower rail corridor means all piers have to be pre-cast and trucked to site. Work is also underway to build a brand new station at Noble Park with better lighting and more comfortable facilities, while opening up access to the Douglas Street shops.

The $1.6 billion Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project is removing nine of Victoria’s worst level crossings and creating 22,500 hectares of open space – including a new recreation zone at Ross Reserve.

The combined result of level crossing removals, signalling upgrades and new trains will be a more frequent, reliable and comfortable service for passengers on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line.

For more information, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au