- Published:
- Wednesday 21 June 2017
The Andrews Labor Government is ramping up work on its major transport projects these school holidays, and drivers and public transport users are being warned to plan ahead.
Crews will take advantage of the quieter holiday period to get Melbourne ready for the Metro Tunnel, as part of a 16 day construction blitz on road and rail projects across the state.
St Kilda Road between Domain Road and Kings Way/Toorak Road will be temporarily reduced to one lane in each direction, while buses will replace trams from 1 to 11 July between Domain Road and High Street.
The closures will allow workers to build new tram tracks along Toorak Road and two new tram stops, so that the 58 tram can continue to operate while the new underground station at Domain is built.
During this time, motorists are advised to avoid St Kilda Road if they can, or allow up to 30 minutes extra travel time.
Tram passengers should also allow up to an additional 30 minutes for bus replacement services, and drivers should use alternate routes including Punt Road, Kings Way and Canterbury Road.
When tram works are complete, part of Domain Road will close for many years to build the new station at Domain.
Major roadworks on the Monash Freeway, M80 Ring Road and Swan Street Bridge will affect motorists over the holiday period.
On 1, 2, 8 and 15 July there will be overnight shuts on the Tullamarine Freeway between Racecourse Road and Bulla Road, as part of the CityLink Tulla Widening project.
Work to remove dangerous and congested level crossings and get the network ready for new, high-capacity trains will affect services on the Hurstbridge, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in July, while track and infrastructure upgrades will affect services on a number of metropolitan and regional train lines.
For a full list of works and closures and plan your journey, visit vicroads.vic.gov.au and ptv.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
"We make no apologies for building the trains, trams and roads Victorians need to get home safer and sooner."
"This massive construction blitz will be disruptive – so plan ahead, consider alternative routes and allow more time to get where you need to go."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
"This will be a major disruption for our city but Melbourne needs the Metro Tunnel to free up space in the City Loop to run more trains, more often to our suburbs and our regions."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
"These holidays you’ll see construction workers getting on with the job of widening the Tulla and the M80, adding extra lanes along the Monash, and upgrading the Swan Street Bridge."