The Andrews Labor Government is removing the dangerous and congested level crossing on the South Gippsland Highway to get people in Melbourne’s outer South East home safer and sooner.

Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, announced today that geotechnical investigations for the project have begun and will continue until early March.

Geotechnical investigations involve drilling bore holes up to between 15 and 40 metres deep to gain a greater understanding of the ground conditions in the area. This information will inform the design and engineering of the level crossing removal, and help determine which options are feasible. Scanning and digging activities will also be carried out to identify the depth and position of electrical cables, water pipes and other services, and a specialist teams will look for areas of environmental or cultural significance.

The level crossing clogs up the South Gippsland Highway, which is used by more than 30,000 vehicles every day. Removing it will reduce road congestion and make Dandenong safer for motorists, train passengers and locals.

South Gippsland Highway is one of 50 level crossings being removed by the Labor Government. Ten are already gone, 10 more are under construction and a further seven level crossing removals will begin this year.

For more information and to register for updates on the works on the South Gippsland Highway, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.