Work ramps up this autumn on Victoria’s Big Build, as we continue to remove level crossings, build new stations and do critical testing on the rail network ahead of the Metro Tunnel opening in 2025 – a year ahead of schedule.
In regional Victoria, there will be significant work happening to add more rail services, remove level crossings and improve facilities for regional passengers.
Read more below about the major planned disruptions coming up in inner, west, north, east and south east Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Inner Melbourne
The eastbound lane of La Trobe Street will remain closed until mid 2024 between Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street so crews can undertake critical work on State Library Station, with detour routes in place. Metro Tunnel Project work will also mean that Swanston Street will be closed northbound to cyclists between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane in May. Diversions will also be in place for pedestrians while the Swanston Street western footpath is closed between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane from May to July. The southbound lanes on St Kilda Rd will be closed between Dorcas Street and Toorak Road from Monday 8 April to Friday 12 April, with detour routes in place.
Yarra Trams will be doing maintenance and renewal work that will mean buses replace trams at times on routes 3, 16, 58, 67, 78, 82 and 86.
Melbourne’s west
As part of West Gate Tunnel Project works, construction will start on a new 2.5km elevated cycling veloway along Footscray Road to create a safe, express journey for cyclists. In addition, work will continue on building new connections from the elevated road above Footscray Road. Lanes will be closed in both directions on Footscray Road between Shepherd Bridge and Waterfront Way from Monday 4 March until mid 2024 to allow for the installation of important parts of the veloway and bridge structure. Between Monday 19 February to Monday 4 March, Footscray Road will be closed in both directions between CityLink and Dudley Street to ensure the safe installation of a new walking and cycling bridge over Footscray Road in Docklands.
Sections of the West Gate Freeway, West Gate Bridge, Princes Freeway and M80 Ring Road will also be closed overnight at times in March and early April to install overhead signage gantries.
As the Metro Tunnel Project continues testing trains on the Sunbury Line, buses replace trains from North Melbourne to Sunshine at times in autumn.
Melbourne’s north
Between March and May lanes and ramps will be closed at times overnight on the M80 Ring Road in Greensborough, between Plenty Road and the Greensborough Bypass. Lanes will also be closed at times on the Greensborough Highway, between Grimshaw and Elder streets.
Level crossing removal works will see buses replace trains on the Mernda Line between Reservoir and Epping from April as work continues on the Keon Parade level crossing removal.
Melbourne’s east
Continuing work to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing at Bedford Road, Ringwood, means that Bedford Road will be closed to traffic at the level crossing until late March, with buses replacing trains on sections of the Belgrave and Lilydale lines. Work also continues on the new Croydon Station, with shuttle buses connecting passengers to Ringwood East and Mooroolbark stations and trains running express through Croydon Station.
Upgrade works at the intersection of Mount Dandenong Road, Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose Road and Leith Road will see a single lane closed in each direction through the intersection from March to June.
Worksites are being set up to connect an upgraded Eastern Freeway to the North East Link tunnels. Lanes and ramps will be closed overnight at times from mid to late March, and the new Eastern Freeway speed limits between Burke and Tram roads will continue.
From March, eastbound traffic on Manningham Road in Bulleen will move onto Bridge Street for up to 2 years to keep drivers moving while North East Link’s Manningham Road interchange is built. Underground services are being relocated in preparation for major construction on Suburban Rail Loop East. Burwood Highway will be closed overnight for up to 2 nights from Monday 18 March for eastbound traffic and then overnight for up to 2 nights from Tuesday 2 April for westbound traffic. Lane closures will follow each overnight disruption and run until September.
Melbourne’s south east
As the Metro Tunnel Project continues testing trains, there will be disruptions on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines at times in autumn.
Work to remove 3 level crossings in Pakenham continues as well as construction on new premium stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham. A new station will also open in Narre Warren in late March.
With major works underway at Parkdale to build a rail bridge over the road, a new station, and upgrades to Stony Point signalling equipment, buses will replace trains on sections of the Frankston and Stony Point lines at times in April and May.
As part of the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade, from early March to June the road will be closed between Berwick-Cranbourne Road and New Holland Drive, and Camms Road will be closed at Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road from mid February to mid 2024.
As part of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, the Princes Freeway will be closed overnight between McGregor Road and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road at times from mid February to May. Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road will be closed between southern Princes Freeway roundabout and Peet Street for up to a week in May, while the outbound freeway ramps on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road will also be closed. From Sunday 3 to Monday 4 March, the intersection of McGregor Road, Henry Road and Webster Way will be closed.
Ballarto Road Upgrade works will see the road closed at Boggy Creek for 2 weekends in early autumn and McCormicks Road closed at the Ballarto Road intersection with speeds reduced from late March to mid July.
Regional Victoria
A huge amount of work will take place during autumn in the state’s north-east, with coaches replacing trains on the Shepparton and Seymour lines between Southern Cross, Seymour and Shepparton from Saturday 9 to Sunday 24 March, and then on the Shepparton Line between Seymour and Shepparton from Monday 25 March to Sunday 14 April.
Work will continue on the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication and Stage 2 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade during 2 separate week-long disruptions on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines. Coaches will replace trains from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 April and Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 May.
Replacement coaches will run for 6 weeks in May and June on the Gippsland Line as crews carry out complex signalling work, safety testing and driver training.
Passengers planning to travel during these disruptions should allow up to 60 minutes extra for their journey and check the temporary coach replacement timetable before travelling, which will be available from the V/Line and Public Transport Victoria (PTV) websites closer to the start of works.
Avoid delays and check before you travel
Check for up-to-date disruptions information before you travel.