No crossing pledge

Labor will remove the level crossing at Merinda Park Station if elected in November. At the announcement on Monday were: State Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera, Shadow Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan and Shadow Minister for Public Transport Jill Hennessy. 127256_09 Picture: DONNA OATES

By BRIDGET SCOTT

CONGESTION and traffic jams may be a thing of the past after a trouble crossing in Cranbourne North was pledged to be removed should Labor be elected.
Shadow Minister for Roads Luke Donellan stood alongside Shadow Minister for Public Transport Jill Hennessey and State Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera last week to announce Labor’s commitment to remove theThompsons Road level crossing at Merinda Park station.
The removal of this crossing would be in addition to the $175 million duplication of Thompsons Road.
Mr Donellan said the level crossing would only be removed if Labor was elected in November.
“Thompsons Road has been a danger for years and congestion here is terrible,” he said.
‘Labor will duplicate Thompsons Road between Eastlink and Clyde Road and remove the level crossing at Merinda Park station, which will ease congestion and improve road safety.”
Ms Hennessey said this was the first step to ease traffic problems in this area.
“This level crossing divided out community and only Labor will remove it,” he said.
Mr Perera said this announcement would be welcomed by road users throughout the area.
“More than 24,000 vehicles travel along Thompsons Road every day,” he said.
“Removing the level crossing at Merinda Park station is a crucial component of Labor’s plan to fix Thompsons Road.”
Mr Perera said Labor was committed to easing road congestion.