The Victorian Government has awarded a contract to remove the level crossing on Buckley Street, Essendon, leaving the community and the council in uproar.

The plan to lower Buckley Street to pass under the Craigieburn line proposes to maintain local access and increase pedestrian safety.

“There’s no doubt that there needs to be some changes to the level crossing,” said Essendon Mayor, Andrea Surace.

As one of the key channels in Melbourne’s inner north west, carrying approximately 11,000 vehicles per day, the Buckley Street level crossing requires modifications to cope with the projected increase in services on the Craigieburn line.

However, Cr Surace said “the correct manner would be to have the road lowered”, as the government’s road over rail solution is “a cheap, nasty option”.

State member for Essendon, Danny Pearson, remains definite that “road under is better than rail under”.

Feeling blindsided by the decision, lobbyist group ‘Save Buckley Street’ continue to promote solutions which best suit the community.

A representative of ‘Save Buckley Street’, Ida Perez, said “I thought they would do it as a rail under road solution because that is what they indicated”.

“If their design did not have significant flaws, we would not be complaining,” said Mrs Perez.

Member for Western Metropolitan area, Bernie Finn, said that if the government had listened to the Essendon community and council, “we wouldn’t have this imminent catastrophe.”

The project is proposed to begin later this year, concluding in 2019.