Super Summer Of Works On Victoria’s Big Build

Victoria’s Big Build will heat up over summer with more than ten thousand construction workers focused on transforming road and rail infrastructure across Victoria in the coming months.

There will be major works on 10 rail lines, seven tram routes and four critical roads including the West Gate Bridge, West Gate Freeway, Monash Freeway and M80 Ring Road. Another four level crossings will be gone for good with

a total of 58 level crossings to be removed by the end of summer and three new stations opened to the public.

The West Gate-CityLink-Monash (M1) freeway – one of the state’s most critical transport corridors – will see a massive construction burst commencing with annual maintenance of the West Gate Bridge between Boxing Day and 4 January 2022, with three of the five outbound lanes closed.

From 11 January to late February, ongoing works will occur to widen the West Gate Freeway, with the closure of Williamstown Road under the freeway and its citybound entry and exit ramps, as well as the West Gate Freeway-M80 outbound ramp and the M80-Princes Freeway ramp.

Work to add 36 kilometres of lanes to the Monash Freeway between Warrigal Road and Cardinia Road will continue during January with daytime lane closures, reduced speed limits and overnight shuts as crews lay 72,000 tonnes of asphalt.

Motorists should expect significant delays of up to an hour at times on the West Gate-CityLink-Monash (M1) corridor over summer and are encouraged to plan ahead and seek alternative routes.

Buses will replace trains at various times across the network as we work to upgrade the Cranbourne line and remove level crossings over the summer period.

Ten-minute train services in the morning peak on the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line are just around the corner with track duplication on target for completion in early 2022 – a year ahead of schedule.

Two more level crossings will go at Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing and Ferguson Street, Williamstown with the new North Williamstown Station opening in December, while another two – Greens Road, Cranbourne and Clyde Road, Berwick - will go during summer. A new Merinda Park Station will open to passengers in early 2022.

Tram services will be impacted by track renewals on High Street, Northcote and Mt Alexander Road, Essendon as well as on Glenferrie Road, Kooyong and Swan Street, Richmond. The Collins/William Street tram stop in the CBD will be upgraded in February to a level access stop.

In Melbourne’s north, motorists are urged to plan for weekend closures of the M80 Ring Road in late January and mid-February as asphalting is undertaken for the upgrade between Sydney Road and Edgars Road. Construction will continue on the Bulleen Park and Ride as the first part of North East Link’s Eastern Freeway busway.

In regional Victoria, major construction will start on platform extensions at Nagambie and Murchison East stations. Coaches will replace Shepparton Line trains from 1 to 12 December. Work on the Warrnambool Line and Waurn Ponds Station upgrades will step up with coaches replacing trains in late November.

Passengers are asked to plan their journey and wear a mask while on public transport. For more information about planned disruptions over summer visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan

“Some of our biggest transport projects are now really taking shape on road and rail projects that will transform how you travel, and support thousands of jobs at a time we need them most.”

“While these works take place there will be disruptions on the road and rail network. Passengers and motorists are advised to plan their travel and allow extra travel time.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Roads and Public Transport Ben Carroll

“As Victorians once again enjoy major events, public transport will be boosted to ensure extra services to the events we have missed including the Boxing Day Test and Australian Open.”