Voters have strongly backed the Andrews government's sky rail project as part of its policy to remove dozens of level crossings.
A new ReachTEL poll commissioned by The Age found 60 per cent of Victorians "support the use of sky rail to remove level crossings".
![An artist's impression of sky rail.](/web/20160905164012im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/0/d/w/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gr89nx.png/1473075971117.jpg)
Just 22.4 per cent oppose it, with a 18 per cent undecided on the plan, which will elevate the track between Caulfield and Dandenong, removing nine congested level crossings.
Sky rail is part of Labor's popular election policy to remove 50 level crossings over eight years. Work on the $1.6 billion project, which will also see five stations rebuilt, is due for completion before the next state election in 2018.
![The huge gantry cranes that will build sky rail on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160905164012im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/z/l/m/l/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1467795922953.png)
The huge gantry cranes that will build sky rail on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line. Photo: Supplied
The project has attracted controversy and local resistance to the plan, which residents say will be noisy and ugly, and lower house values.
Opponents also argue that the government failed to consult them properly on the project. The government has offered to buy back the homes of some residents.
Critics say the train line should be lowered, which is more expensive and would take longer. The line has been lowered in Bentleigh, Ormond and McKinnon as part of the crossing removal plan.
![Illustration: Matt Golding.](/web/20160905164012im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/8/j/o/p/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gr89nx.png/1473075971117.jpg)
One of the chief reasons sky rail has been chosen is because it minimises disruption on Melbourne's busiest train route.
![An artist's impression of the planned sky rail.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160905164012im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/e/t/t/z/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1472689810237.png)
An artist's impression of the planned sky rail. Photo: Supplied
Last week, the Lower Our Tracks Inc protest group filed documents in the Supreme Court claiming the government's decision to allow elevated rail was "unreasonable" in a bid to halt construction. The hearing is expected this week.
The poll of 1653 Victorians last Thursday night showed the opposition to the project was strongest among Liberal voters.
The poll contained mixed results for Premier Daniel Andrews, with Labor leading in two-party terms 51-49, but Mr Andrews slipping behind Opposition Leader Matthew Guy who was the preferred premier of 50.9 per cent of voters.
![A 'No Sky Rail' sign on Hewits rd Carnegie, protesting the State Government's plan to build sky rails on the Frankston and Pakenham train lines](http://web.archive.org./web/20160905164012im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/7/4/y/3/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1472777200622.png)
An anti-sky rail sign in Carnegie. Photo: Wayne Taylor
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