Work will start "within weeks" on the controversial sky rail project that will elevate a Melbourne train line to remove nine dangerous level crossings, the Victorian government says.
Preliminary works are scheduled to begin at the end of April on the $1.6 billion project between the city and Dandenong, after contracts were signed on Friday with an alliance including Lendlease and Metro Trains Melbourne.
The state government hopes the project will be completed by the end of 2018 with the Dandenong line closed for 25 days during construction.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan on Friday acknowledged "a number" of residents concerned about elevated sections of rail overlooking their properties had spoken to the Level Crossing Removal Authority about selling their houses to the government.
Treasurer Tim Pallas rejected opposition suggestions Labor hadn't followed due process in awarding the contracts.
"We've gone through a very rigorous process of competitive tendering here," he told reporters, adding Lendlease wasn't given any preferential treatment after the East West Link tollway it was due to build was scrapped.
"They won this on merit."
As well as removing nine level crossings, the sky rail project involves the construction of five new stations and the creation of 11 MCG's worth of new public open space.
Liberal MP David Davis said Mr Andrews had "no mandate to build this cheap and nasty eyesore" and that residents had been "hoodwinked".
"Despite Daniel Andrews' efforts to paint sky rail as a utopian paradise, everyone knows it will be a crime magnet with all sorts of unsavoury and anti-social behaviour around it," he said.
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