Major construction works on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel project are to get underway next month, leading to long-term lane reductions and road closures.
For up to four years, St Kilda Road will be reduced to one lane in both directions on an 800-metre stretch between Kings Way/Toorak Road West and Dorcas Street, once work begins in mid to late February. Normal tram operations are expected to be mostly maintained, with pedestrian and cycling access also remaining.
A 300-metre stretch of Grattan Street, between Royal Parade and Leicester Street, will close for up to five years, with some diversions for cyclists to be introduced and pedestrian access to remain.
Announcing the changes, acting public transport Luke Donnellan said that motorists should expect to plan ahead and allow extra travel time when travelling along the reduced stretch of St Kilda Road or through Parkville.
While a new tram stop is being built on Park Street in South Melbourne in February, buses will replace trams on a section of Route 58. During the school holidays, major excavations in the middle of St Kilda Road will cause buses to replace all trams along a section while tram tracks and traffic lanes are reconfigured.
Approximately $25 million is to be spent on road and traffic upgrades across the Melbourne to help the city deal with the disruptions caused in the construction of the $11 billion Metro Tunnel project, and will include creating more traffic lanes on alternative routes, widening and re-marking roads and reprogramming more than 100 traffic lights at key intersections.
“These works will be disruptive but are absolutely necessary to build the badly-needed Metro Tunnel as safely and quickly as possible,” Donnellan said.
“We’re making up for four years of nothing under the former Liberal Government – building the Metro Tunnel to free up space for more trains, more often across Melbourne.”