Developing urban open space in Melbourne

On track

published in sb 4/2020

Melbourne’s busiest rail line has undergone a transformation with the AUD 1.6 billlion project. ASPECT Studios thought of an elevated rail solution for this corridor. The removal of nine level crossings along the rail corridor opens up space for a public realm that was previously unavailable and provides more opportunities for community use under the rail line. The elevation creates more than 11 football fields of open space, parklands and new community areas, as well as 17 km of pedestrian and cyclist paths.

The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project has completely transformed and reconnected its surrounding communities. The project replaced nine dangerous rail level crossings with five elevated railway stations along one of Melbourne’s busiest transport corridors. By elevating the line and stations, this project presented an opportunity to transform an extensive area of metropolitan Melbourne into a new linear park.

While the original emphasis of the project was on elevating the existing rail line and removing the level crossings, the focus on creating new public space opened many additional opportunities for community use and connection. For decades, this rail corridor had acted as a major barrier to the surrounding urban area, adding to road congestion, limiting links between suburbs and restricting the introduction of new rail services. As well as reconnecting communities, the resulting project has delivered 22.5 ha of open space, parklands and new community areas, as well as 17 km of newly built pedestrian and cyclist paths.