The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with removing the dangerous and congested level crossings at Heatherton Road, Chandler Road and Corrigan Road, with geotechnical investigations beginning on the nine level crossing removals on the Cranbourne Pakenham line.

Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams MP, said the start of geotechnical investigations was a critical milestone in the Level Crossing Removal Project’s Caulfield to Dandenong Package, which will remove every level crossing between Dandenong and the city.

Geotechnical investigations will provide critical information about underground water and soil conditions that will inform design and construction of the level crossing removals.

The works are expected to last three weeks, and will be carried out on behalf of the Level Crossing Removal Authority by Metro Trains Melbourne.

Major construction on the Caulfield to Dandenong package is expected to begin in 2016, and all nine level crossings will be removed by late 2018.

The removal of these nine level crossings is part of a multi-billion dollar package of works on the Cranbourne Pakenham Line that also includes the rebuild of four stations, the purchase of 37 high-capacity trains and upgrades to power and signalling infrastructure.

These works will boost capacity on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line – Melbourne’s busiest – by 42 per cent, creating space for 11,000 extra passengers during peak hour.

The Labor Government has provided $2.4 billion in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget for the removal of at least 20 of Victoria’s dangerous and congested level crossings in its first term, including Heatherton Road, Chandler Road and Corrigan Road.