Major works are happening across Victoria’s Big Build this autumn ahead of the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel opening later this year. Another level crossing will be gone for good in the coming months and the newly aligned Bulleen Road that will connect the Eastern Freeway to the 6.5 km North East Link tunnels is taking shape.
Read more below about the major planned disruptions coming up in west, east, north, and south east Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Melbourne’s west
As the West Gate Tunnel opening approaches, the huge tower crane that was used to build part of the tunnel will be removed. While this is happening, drivers on the West Gate Freeway will experience some outbound lane and ramp closures for 2 weekends between March and April. Inbound ramp closures will happen from now until late March between Grieve Parade and the West Gate Bridge, and inbound traffic will continue to be reduced to 3 lanes. The inbound entry ramps on Millers Road and Grieve Parade, as well as the Williamstown Road exit ramp, will be closed.
Works will also take place on the M80 Ring Road on weekends in March to integrate the West Gate Tunnel into the existing freeway network, with some traffic changes while this happens.
Works for the Level Crossing Removal Project will take place during early March in Melton.
Opening later this year, the Metro Tunnel will connect the Sunbury Line with the Cranbourne/Pakenham lines, traveling through 5 new underground stations. While train testing takes place on a number of weekends from the end of March through April and May, buses will replace trains on part of the Sunbury Line.
Melbourne's east
In Melbourne’s east, construction continues on Suburban Rail Loop East as crews prepare sites for tunnelling next year.
In Burwood, buses will replace Route 75 trams for part of the journey for 2 weeks in May, and through autumn there will be lane closures at times in both directions on the Burwood Highway.
Melbourne's north
As work continues on the Eastern Freeway, lane-splitting is now in place outbound between Burke and Bulleen roads.
Across the North East Link project, there will also be road closures at times including overnight on the Greensborough Bypass and the M80 Ring Road in Greensborough.
Melbourne’s south east
Critical testing and trial operations are underway on the Metro Tunnel, which will connect the Sunbury Line with the Cranbourne/Pakenham lines when it opens. While testing takes place on a number of weekends from the end of March through April and May, Cranbourne/Pakenham Line passengers will need to change trains at Caulfield Station for trains to the city. Buses will also replace trains on part of the Cranbourne/Pakenham lines for 4 days in mid-April.
The dangerous and congested level crossing at Station Street in Beaconsfield will be gone for good this autumn, bringing us a step closer to a boom gate-free Pakenham Line this year.
Clayton Road in Clayton will be closed overnight for up to 5 weeks from late March, and there will also be traffic changes on Blackburn and Ferntree Gully roads in Notting Hill.
Works will take place on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, with the Princes Freeway closed citybound between McGregor Road to Cardinia Road from the evening of Friday 14 to Monday 17 March.
In early March, works will be happening as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project in Mordialloc.
Regional Victoria
In regional Victoria, coaches will replace trains on the Gippsland Line for 10 days from Friday 21 March to prepare the line’s new signalling system as well as for most services for 4 days in mid-April due to Metro Tunnel train testing.
Coaches will replace trains on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines for part of the journey for 2 weeks from late March, while crews upgrade level crossings on the Geelong Line and work begins on a stabling upgrade at Warrnambool Station.
Find out more
Check for up-to-date disruptions information before you travel.
