Spencer St project fast tracked by council hints Melbourne will reopen soon
One of Melbourne’s busiest streets is getting a pandemic makeover this month to ease congestion and make it easier – and safer – for people to walk and ride around the city. Here’s the plan.
Melbourne City
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A council project to widen pedestrian paths on one of the busiest streets in the city has been fast-tracked to get the job done this month.
Spencer St is getting a pandemic makeover to ease walker congestion by removing a traffic lane allowing the CBD to operate in a COVID-19-safe way.
The fast-tracked decision comes from the City of Melbourne Council to ensure coronavirus precautions are in place if and when the city lockdown is lifted.
City of Melbourne chief executive Justin Hanney said the changes would make it easier for people to socially distance.
“Spencer St has historically been one of Melbourne’s most congested intersections and it’s normally used by thousands of pedestrians every day,” he said.
“The increased footpath space around this major transport hub will provide more room to physically distance and boost confidence that people can safely return to the city.
“These improvements are part of a larger project to make it easier for people to walk and ride bikes around Melbourne and to help encourage people back to the city.”
To create extra walking room 740sq m of adjustable footpath extensions will be put on the ground and one of the southbound traffic lanes between Little Bourke St and Collins St will go.
Changes to traffic lights have already been made to minimise people waiting in clusters for the green light to cross the street.
Within Melbourne’s CBD grid 89 per cent of trips are made on foot but only 26 per cent of street space is dedicated to footpaths.
Before the pandemic, the crossing from Southern Cross Station on Spencer St was one of Victoria’s busiest intersections.
In early 2020 more than 15,000 people walking across in morning rush hours.
The City of Melbourne said modelling showed the changes wouldn’t clog up the wider commuter network.
The first installations will be monitored and adjusted before becoming permanent.
The initiative is part of joint project between council and the state government to build 40km of new bike lanes and pedestrian improvements in Melbourne.
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Contact Grace at grace.mckinnon@news.com.au