THE Moore St level crossing, which divides Perth and East Perth, will close permanently as the Public Transport Authority confirmed there’s no funding for a $50 million overpass.

In morning peak hour, roads leading to the crossing are a picture of congested chaos.

Boom gates are closed for more than 30 minutes in the hour, causing traffic to bank up hundreds of metres as far as Stirling St.

The PTA anticipates more trains will use the Midland and Armadale lines when the new Perth Stadium station opens in 2018, and again when the Forrestfield-Airport Link connects from Bayswater station in 2020.

Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said after Perth Stadium events the crossing would potentially be closed for an hour at a time.

“About 5000 vehicles use the level crossing on a typical weekday, far less than the approximately 45,000 vehicles using the soon to be grade-separated Nicholson Road level crossing in Canning Vale,” he said.

Camera Icon Traffic banked up on Pier St in Perth, due to the Moore Street level crossing letting through the early morning trains. Credit: News Limited

“In the absence of any funding we believe it is more appropriate to close the level crossing at Moore St rather than spend tens of millions of dollars on a grade separation.”

The PTA forecasts the Moore St crossing boom gates would be down for a patience-testing 75 per cent of the morning peak period once the Forrestfield-Airport Link opened.

Mr Hynes said there was no confirmed date for the level crossing’s closure.

But he said it was “a high priority for closure for safety reasons”.

RAC’s corporate affairs manager Will Golsby said railway level crossings were just the start of Perth’s congestion woes.

“Upgrading Perth’s level crossings may assist with easing congestion in certain areas at certain times of day,” he said.

“However, Perth’s congestion crisis extends well beyond just level crossing locations.

“Perth is well on its way to becoming the most congested capital city in the country.”

Infrastructure Australia predicts Perth will have seven out of 10 of the most congested roads in the country within 15 years.

“Congestion will cost more than $16 billion a year by 2031,” Mr Golsby said.