The successful bidders for the contract were announced in February and the project involves rebuilding parts of the existing line with elevated sections, which will enable the elimination of the nine major level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong. Three sections totalling 8.2km will be elevated, creating 225,000m2 of public open spaces along the line. The viaduct sections will be built over the existing line to minimise disruption during construction.
The project also includes the rebuilding of stations at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton and Noble Park, and upgrading signalling and power supplies along the corridor.
Construction will begin later this year with completion planned for 2018.
The Victorian government has committed to remove at least 20 of the state's most dangerous level crossings by 2018, and a total of 50 by 2022.
As part of the project 30 station platforms along the line will also be lengthened to cater for the 37 new high-capacity metropolitan trains, which are currently in the process of being tendered, with three competing groups - led by Bombardier, Alstom and Downer EDI - currently on the shortlist.
