Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins has submitted another 339 signatures on a petition, calling for the upgrade, to State Parliament.

In total more than 1600 people have joined the petition since Ms Hutchins submitted the first round of signatures in February.

The petition stated the level crossing’s boom gates remain down for 52 minutes every two hours during peak times.

Last month Leader reported on a public meeting which was held to discuss the Melton Highway level crossing campaign.

Year 12 student Jessica Anne, who attends a school near the crossing, told Leader the congestion at the crossing has constantly caused her fellow pupils to arrive late for class.

“It does affect me in that we don’t know when to leave home for school, because even a five- minute difference could mean that I’m 10 minutes early or 15 minutes later, or even half an hour,” she said.

Her mother Joy Pollard said she has seen many “near misses” at the crossing involving children heading to school.

A Facebook group titled ‘Melton Highway NEEDS an Underpass/Overpass’ which started on 30 October last year has since garnered more than 2700 ‘likes’.

Page founder Dorian Papadopoulos said as a frequent user of the Melton Highway, he noticed the congestion problems started at the level crossing after the Watergardens train line was electrified to Sunbury.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/west/more-than-1600-people-have-signed-a-petition-calling-for-an-underpass-or-overpass-at-the-melton-highway-level-crossing-in-sydenham/story-fngnvmj7-1226961447199