Major infrastructure projects will cause significant travel disruptions across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs throughout the autumn months as construction enters key phases on several road and rail removals.
Commuters on the Werribee and Williamstown lines will face the most immediate impact starting the evening of Friday, 10 April. Buses will replace trains between Newport and Werribee until the first service on Saturday, 25 April. This shutdown is required to facilitate the removal of the Maddox Road level crossing in Newport.
In Truganina, Hopkins Road will close at the level crossing for a three-week period beginning in late April and extending into mid-May. Crews will be on-site to construct a new road bridge aimed at separating vehicle traffic from the rail line.
Further south in Point Cook, the bridge over the Princes Freeway is scheduled to close from mid-April until mid-year. During this time, the existing roundabout will be replaced with a traffic light system. Drivers will be required to follow detours while the intersection is rebuilt.
In the northern suburbs, work is intensifying on the North East Link project. Construction of the twin tunnels between Watsonia and Bulleen will necessitate a series of overnight and weekend closures on the Eastern Freeway.
One full weekend closure is planned for late March on the section between Doncaster Road and Bulleen Road. Additionally, a southbound section of Bulleen Road between Bridge Street and Manningham Road will close for up to two weeks in April.
Regional passengers traveling to and from the west and north will also see changes to their commutes. Coaches will replace trains on the Maryborough Line from 25 April to 21 May to allow for the completion of the Murray Basin Rail Project. Similar coach replacements will affect sections of the Geelong, Warrnambool, Seymour, and Shepparton lines during April and May for various maintenance and station upgrades.
In the central city, major tram works in early May will result in the closure of the intersection at Flinders and Swanston streets. St Kilda Road will also be shut between Flinders Street and Southbank Boulevard during this period.
Transport officials are advising all travelers to plan for increased travel times and to check the Victoria’s Big Build website for specific disruption schedules before starting their journeys.
