250 locations across Melbourne will undergo more than $25 million in road and traffic management upgrades to prepare for the city’s new Metro Tunnel.
From early 2017, Franklin Street will close between Swanston Street and Victoria Street, and A’Beckett Street will close between Swanston and Stewart Streets. They will remain closed for five years to enable construction of the new CBD North Station, next to Melbourne Central.
To improve traffic flow and provide an alternative to these roads, parking near intersections on La Trobe Street between Exhibition and King Streets will be removed.
A ‘no stopping’ zone will also be introduced eastbound on Victoria Street between Leicester and Nicholson Streets in the morning peak.
In late April 2017, Domain Road will be closed from St Kilda Road to the edge of Edmund Herring Oval for construction of the new Domain station, and trams will begin running along the new Toorak Road West connection.
From late 2017, St Kilda Rd will be reconfigured to one lane in each direction between Domain and Toorak Road for three years while the new Domain Station is built. Tram, pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said, “There will be a huge impact on our city while we build the Metro Tunnel but the biggest impact will be once it’s finished, delivering more trains in and out of the city for passengers in suburbs and regions across Victoria.”
“The Metro Tunnel will make a real difference to people’s lives, wherever they live. It means less time waiting on platforms or stuck on the train, and more time with their family.”
In addition to these alterations, more than 100 traffic lights at key intersections across inner Melbourne will be re-programmed to improve traffic flow, and CCTV cameras will be installed on alternative routes such as Kings Way and Queens Road, to monitor traffic in real-time and respond to incidents on these key corridors quicker.
Victorian Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, said, “These small changes will keep Melbourne moving while we build the Metro Tunnel and a better transport system for Victoria.
“We’re putting people first and building this critical project, to get people home safer and sooner every day.”
The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority has worked closely with VicRoads and local councils to develop this comprehensive traffic management strategy.
Further road changes will be required and will be announced as planning for the project continues.
