CBD street closures to support Metro Tunnel works

Starting today, portions of Melbourne CBD’s Franklin and A’Beckett Streets will be closed, with the closed areas to be replaced by construction sites that will build Melbourne’s CBD North Station,a key part of the $10.9 billion Metro Tunnel project.

Franklin Street will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between Swanston Street and Victoria Street, and A’Beckett Street is closed between Swanston Street and Stewart Street.

Changes to existing traffic routes have also been announced to help combat any disruption to the normal traffic flow that may be caused by the road closures. There will be no parking allowed near the intersection on La Trobe Street between Exhibition and King Street to enable a new permanent traffic lane to be provided, as well as a ‘no stopping’ zone introduced eastbound on Victoria Street between Leicester and Nicholson streets during peak morning times.

The CBD North Station will be located underneath Swanston Street and provide access for commuters to the State Library, RMIT University and the local shopping precinct.  CBD North Station will directly link to Melbourne Central Station to provide a seamless interchange between the new Metro Tunnel, the City Loop and the entirety of Melbourne’s rail networks.

In order for the station to be built, crews will be required to dig 11 storeys below ground level on Swanston Street.

Acting Minister for Public Transport Jaala Pulford spoke of the significant disruptions projected, but stressed that they will have major long term benefits.

“This is the start of major disruptions for this massive project, which will bring decades of benefits for Melbourne.”

“The Metro Tunnel is being built in the heart of the city, but it’s a project for all of Victoria – enabling more trains, more often right across Melbourne.”

“I thank people for their patience. I know these closures will be disruptive but they will enable us to build the turn-up-and-go train system we need to stay the most liveable city in the world.”

Other areas of the city will also see some portions of its roads closed later this year, with Domain Road closing from St Kilda Road to the edge of Edmund Herring Oval to facilitate the construction of Domain Station.

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