- Published:
- Tuesday 6 March 2018
A six-week construction blitz will start on Friday 16 March, to ramp up works on the Andrews Labor Government’s $30 billion major transport infrastructure program.
The level crossings at Lower Plenty and Grange roads will be removed ahead of schedule as part of a 44-day shutdown of the Hurstbridge line. When the line re-opens, trains will stop at the new Rosanna Station and use the newly-duplicated track from Heidelberg to Rosanna.
Buses will replace trains from 16 March to 29 April between Clifton Hill and Greensborough/Macleod stations. Sections of Grange and Lower Plenty Roads will also be closed during this period.
Buses will also replace trams along much of St Kilda Road during the school holidays as part of Metro Tunnel works to build the new Anzac Station under the road.
On the Cranbourne/Pakenham line, a 17-day blitz from 30 March to 15 April will see two level crossings removed in Clayton and the suburb’s new station open to passengers, with trains travelling on the next 1.4-kilometre section of the new elevated rail line.
Buses will replace trains between Oakleigh and Dandenong from Friday 30 March and Tuesday 2 April, then between Caulfield to Westall from Tuesday 3 April to Sunday 15 April.
Workers will be installing steel beams on the new Chandler Highway Bridge either side of the Easter weekend, with overnight closures on the existing Bridge from 25-29 March and then from 5-10 April.
There’ll also be ongoing traffic management and lane closures for upgrades on the West Gate Freeway, Hoddle Street and Monash Freeway.
The works and associated disruptions will impact transport to and from the wide range of major events occurring across March and April – including the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, AFLW finals and the start of the 2018 AFL season.
Motorists, passengers and sports fans are urged to plan ahead, allow more time for their journey and consider alternatives. For more information, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“This six-week blitz is a vital part of delivering the Metro Tunnel, level crossing removals and getting on with our unprecedented pipeline of major transport projects.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“While we get rid of dangerous and congested level crossings, upgrade tracks and signals, and build the massive Metro Tunnel Project you will still be able to get where they need to go on our trains, trams and buses.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“We need these infrastructure upgrades so we can continue to move people around our city and host major events like the Grand Prix and Comedy Festival Melbourne is renowned for.”
Works
| FROM | TO | TYPE OF WORKS | ALTERNATIVES |
| 15 January | Mid 2018 | Streamlining Hoddle Street works. Lane closures between Queens Parade and Johnston Street. | Allow up to 15 mins extra travel time. |
| 14 February | Up to four years | Metro Tunnel works. St Kilda Road reduced to one traffic lane in both directions for around 800 metres between Kings Way and Dorcas Street | Allow extra 15 mins travel time. |
| 18 February | Up to five years. | West Gate Tunnel Project works. West Gate Freeway widening works between Williamstown Road and M80 interchange. | All lanes remain open during peak periods and major events.
Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and allow time for minor delays. |
| 19 February | Up to five years | Metro Tunnel works. Grattan Street closed in both directions for around 300 metres from Royal Parade to Leicester Street | Detours in place. |
| 2 March | July 2018 | Evans Road north will be closed in both directions between the roundabout at Thompsons Road and Boland Drive from Friday 2 March until early July 2018 | Drivers will be able to access Boland Drive, Honeybark Crescent and Gumview Road via the new Merinda Park Boulevard and Marriott Boulevard.
|
| 8 March | 16 March | Skye/Overton Road closed at the level crossing | Detours in place |
| 9 March (9.30pm) | 12 March | Skye/Overton Road level crossing removal works
|
Buses replacing trains between Carrum and Frankston. Allow up to 20 min extra journey time.
Buses replacing trains on the Stony Point Line. (V/Line) Allow up to 35 mins extra journey time. |
| 16 March | 29 April | Hurstbridge line level crossing removal works | Buses replacing trains between Clifton Hill and Macleod/Greensborough stations. Allow up to 55 mins extra travel time. |
| 16 March | 6 April | Grange Road full road closure between Heidelberg Road and Darling Street | Detours in place. |
| 16 March | 19 March | Lower Plenty Road full road closure between Ellesmere Parade and Turnham Avenue | Detours in place. |
| 22 March | 25 March | Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix | Partial closure of Canterbury Road. |
| 23 March | 25 March | Thompson Road level crossing removal works | Buses replacing trains between Dandenong and Cranbourne stations. Allow extra 40 mins travel time. |
| 25 March | 27 July | Hoddle Street lane closure | Right turn lane from Eastern Freeway to Hoddle Street closed |
| 26 March | 29 March | Chandler Highway Bridge | Closed nightly between 7pm and 6 am. Allow extra 15 mins travel time. |
| 30 March | 1 April | Melton Highway level crossing removal works | Buses replacing trains between Albion and Sunbury on the metropolitan network. Allow extra 60 mins travel time.
For V/Line passengers, coaches will replace Bendigo line trains between Gisborne and Southern Cross station (some Swan Hill services replaced by coaches for entire journey). Allow extra 45 mins travel time. |
| 30 March | 5 April | Route 67 tram work | Some minor local delays may be experienced. |
| 30 March | 15 April | Level crossing removal works
V/line also completing track improvement works between 4 and 15 April |
Buses replacing trains between Caulfield and Westall stations. Allow extra 55 mins travel time.
30 March to 15 April Coaches replacing all Traralgon and Bairnsdale trains for the entire journey. Allow extra 60 mins travel time during off peak times and 90 minutes during peak times. |
| 30 March | 16 April | Lower Plenty Road full road closure between Ellesmere Parade and Turnham Avenue | Detours in place. |
| 1 April | 1 April | West Gate Tunnel works | Whitehall Street Footscray closed. Allow up to 15 mins extra travel time. |
| 1 April (around 8pm) | 17 April | Metro Tunnel works. Buses will replace route 58 trams between Toorak Road West (stop 22) and Park Street in South Melbourne (stop 119) | Allow extra 15 minutes travel time. |
| 3 April | Nov 2018 | City West Water works Spencer Street. Full southbound lane closures between Flinders Street and Collins Street. | Detours in place. |
| 5 April (around 9.30pm) | 17 April | Metro Tunnel works. Buses will replace tram routes 3, 3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72 on St Kilda Road between Commercial Road (stop 25) and Shrine of Remembrance (stop 19) | Allow extra 30 minutes travel time |
| 6 April | 8 April | Frankston line works | Buses replacing trains between Moorabbin and Stony Point stations. Allow extra 40 mins travel time. |
| 15 April at 8:30pm
16 April at 8:30pm |
16 April at 6am
17 April at 6am |
Eastern Freeway night works. The Eastern Freeway outbound ramps and a section of the Eastern Freeway will be closed over two nights.
|
You will not be able to access the Eastern Freeway outbound from Hoddle Street or Alexandra Parade. If you normally get on the Eastern Freeway at Hoddle Street or Alexandra Parade, detour via Queens Parade, then Heidelberg Road and access the freeway via Chandler Highway. You can also use Johnston Street, Studley Park Road and Victoria Street to access Princes Street and Denmark Street before getting back onto the Eastern Freeway at Chandler Highway. |
| 15 April | 15 April | Sunbury line works | Buses replacing trains between Albion and Sunbury stations. Allow extra 60 mins travel time. |
| 15 April | 15 April | Bendigo line works | Coaches replacing trains between Bendigo and Southern Cross stations. Allow extra 60 mins travel time. |
| 29 April | 1 May | Level crossing removal works | Buses replacing trains between Flinders Street and Caulfield/Oakleigh – 8pm to last service. |
| Late April | April 2019 | North Yarra Main Sewer works on Whitehall Street, Footscray, including partial road closure | Detours in place. Allow time for minor delays. |