Victoria is undertaking a winter construction blitz across road, rail and tunnel systems.
Several Big Build projects are reaching critical milestones, including Metro Tunnel testing, West Gate Tunnel ramp closures, and intensified Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East works.
In Melbourne’s west, the West Gate Tunnel edges closer to completion, triggering significant traffic impacts on the West Gate Freeway. From mid-June, outbound lanes between Williamstown Road and Millers Road will be reduced to three, with the Williamstown Road onramp and Millers Road exit ramp to close for works.
Meanwhile, Metro Tunnel system testing ramps up. On 21 June, trains without passengers will begin running through the tunnel, requiring Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham line passengers to change at Footscray and Caulfield stations respectively.
Further disruptions are expected across winter, including a week-long shutdown on the Sunbury Line in late June for Calder Park Drive level crossing removal, and regular evening bus replacements between Newport and Werribee for X’Trapolis 2.0 train testing.
To Melbourne’s north, North East Link tunnelling progresses with both tunnel boring machines now active.
July will see a traffic switch onto new Bulleen Road lanes and partial delivery of the Eastern Freeway interchange. Construction of two active transport bridges at Estelle Street and Heyington Avenue will trigger a weekend closure of the freeway between Doncaster and Tram roads in August, along with ongoing night works.
The Hurstbridge Line will see buses replacing trains between 1 and 24 July as tunnel extension works continue near Watsonia to accommodate the M80 connection.
In the south east, SRL East works will impact Clayton Station in late August, with crews underpinning elevated rail structures ahead of tunnelling. The Clyde Road Upgrade will close key freeway ramps in Berwick from mid-June through October.
Across regional Victoria, intermittent service changes and coach replacements will affect the Gippsland, Ballarat, Ararat, Maryborough, Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill lines. These are tied to a mix of Big Build works, including Gippsland Line upgrades, maintenance programs, and level crossing removals.
