The Victorian Government’s Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRA) is overseeing the largest rail infrastructure project in Victoria’s history. It will see the removal of 75 of Melbourne’s most congested level crossings by 2025.
Rush Wright Associates is working with the Southern Project Alliance, (LXRA), the Victorian Government and Cox Architecture on the design and delivery of some of the stations on the Frankston Train Line, including Mentone Station.
The redevelopment of the Mentone Station precinct provides the opportunity for significant improvements to Mentone’s public realm and the historic landscape setting of the existing station. The new station forecourt aligns with Mentone’s recent “Renaissance” open space project.
The proposed new station provides a generous, 24 hour east-west crossing point for commuters and a set of urban terraces for local residents, students and users of the precinct. Improved perimeter streetscape environments are part of the design scheme.
The rail has been lowered into a rail trench, with the road rebuilt at its existing level. The existing heritage-listed station was used in the final design as part of a new ‘heritage bridge’ over the rail line. The new station location integrates with the Mentone Renaissance project.
The project will include more than three kilometers of walking and cycling paths connecting the Mentone and Cheltenham station precincts. It will also include improved lighting, accessibility, and car parking.
The five heritage-listed trees — two Norfolk Island pines and three Canary Island date palms — in the Mentone station gardens were protected in their current location during construction and a major landscaping program will create a new ‘garden bridge’ across the rail trench near Balcombe Road.
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