Works on the new rail bridge in Croydon are well underway, including the removal of the Coolstore Road level crossing and construction of the new Croydon Station and transport hub.
The first of 88 L-beams have been lifted into place, marking a major milestone for the project and providing an exciting spectacle for locals who braved a chilly autumn evening to watch.
Weighing up to 120t and measuring up to 31m long, the beams were delivered from Laverton and needed two giant cranes to lift and position them on top of the crossheads that support the rail bridge.
From 15 April, Coolstore Road will close at the level crossing to allow for the installation of the giant L-beams over the road and continue to install 12 Super T-beams that will support the rail bridge and elevated station platforms.
Detours will be in place to help vehicles and pedestrians to safely move around the area.
When works are complete, new road connections will see Coolstore Road continue into Main Street and a signalised intersection provide direct links between Wicklow Avenue, Croydon Road, Kent Avenue and Lacey Street. A new intersection at Wicklow Avenue and Devon Street will also provide another safe way to cross the rail line.
The new road connections linking Croydon’s town centre will open by spring, with the Coolstore Road level crossing gone and a new Croydon Station open.
Removing the remaining three sets of boom gates at Coolstore Road, Croydon, Dublin Road, Ringwood East and Cave Hill Road, Lilydale, will make the Lilydale Line level crossing free in 2024 – a year ahead of schedule.
Featured image: Two cranes lifting a beam at the Croydon Station site. Image credit: Victorian Government.
