Contingency plan to keep trams on track as Jetty Rd chaos continues at Glenelg

The government has outlined its contingency plan for the Glenelg tram if the council’s chaotic $40m Jetty Road upgrade misses its deadline.

The chaotic $40m Jetty Rd redevelopment has forced the State Government to prepare contingency plans for its major tram line upgrade as the project nears completion.

The upgrade of Glenelg’s premier street — which includes new footpaths and road surface — has been “accelerated” to align with the temporary suspension of the Glenelg tram line as part of the State Government’s Tram Grade Separation Project — which is expected to be completed by late January next year.

Holdfast Bay Council Mayor Amanda Wilson. Picture: Supplied

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Emily Bourke. Image/Russell Millard Photography

Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson told The Advertiser “from a construction perspective” the Jetty Rd redevelopment was “on time; actually it’s ahead of schedule”.

However, if the fast-tracked project is not completed on schedule, Transport Minister Emily Bourke said there would be “no alternative” but to introduce contingencies for the tram line — which regularly terminates at Moseley Square.

“The Jetty Rd upgrade is a council project, and we will continue to monitor its progress,” she said.

“Should Council’s upgrade of Jetty Rd not enable our trams to run all the way to Moseley Square, we will have no alternative but to stop the tram service at Brighton Rd.”

A government spokesman said the Jetty Rd upgrades had no impact on the State Government’s ability to complete the tram upgrade.

Tram at Jetty Rd Glenelg. Picture: Ben Clark

Ms Wilson said the combination of “building work and the tram not operating” had significantly impacted Glenelg’s foot traffic, but that “Jetty Rd itself is well supported” and “there’s loads of people on it”.

A council spokeswoman said “Glenelg will be ready” for the trams to return.

“The construction program has been accelerated to align with the temporary suspension of the Glenelg tram line,” she said.

“As a result, the expected completion date has been brought forward by almost 18 months, from the end of 2027 to mid-2026, and the overall construction time reduced by five months using the current methodology.

The redevelopment of Jetty Road, Glenelg. Picture: Emma Brasier

“By late December 2025, Jetty Road west of Gordon/Partridge streets is expected to reopen to vehicles, with paved footpaths and garden beds between Moseley Square and Sussex Street also completed.”

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis — who was transport minister when the tram grade project started — slammed the council on Tuesday for the “heartbreaking” damage the Jetty Rd closure and construction was having on businesses.

Mr Koutsantonis’ family once owned the Bay BBQ Chicken shop on Jetty Rd, the Treasurer saying he spent a “huge part of my youth” in the community.

“The most important thing about Jetty Rd is the businesses … it’s not the road, it’s the people there,” he said.

The most recent business to close along the strip was Yiros Shack Cafe, formerly Makis Yiros, which first opened in 1992.

The Stamford Grand hotel is another business significantly impacted by the project, threatening legal action against the Holdfast Bay Council.