Building blitz to create traffic headaches for summer motorists

Travellers hitting the road this summer face major delays as a construction blitz creates nightmares across Melbourne. See the full list of disruptions.

Hour-long delays will hit one of Melbourne’s busiest road corridors this summer as the state government begins a seasonal construction blitz.

Motorists hitting the road for holidays and beach trips are being urged to plan ahead as new projects create traffic nightmares across the city.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan on Monday announced major works would hit 10 railway lines, seven tram routes and four of the states biggest roads.

Cars running along the West Gate Freeway and Monash Freeway will be among the worst affected.

Between Boxing Day and January 4, three out of five outbound lanes will be closed on the West Gate Bridge and works to widen the freeway in the west will hit traffic from January 11 to late February.

Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway will be hit with major delays this summer. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Upgrades on the Monash will ramp up during the first month of next year as lanes are closed and speed limits reduced during the day.

Motorists have been warned to expect delays of up to an hour along these corridors.

Disruptions will also hit the Cranbourne line as the railway is duplicated in time for early 2022, allowing for trains every 10 minutes.

Buses will replace services during these shutdowns and level crossings will create similar disruptions on lines across the city.

Tram tracks will be renewed in Northcote, Essendon, Kooyong and Richmond while another CBD stop at Collins St will be made accessible.

Ms Allan said the massive timetable was needed because of the better weather and the fact Victorians did not travel to school and work as frequently over summer.

We are taking advantage of the quieter holiday period to get into a lot of major project works,” she said.

“That January period presents a really good opportunity.

“It means we can get the work done quickly and reduce the amount of disruption.”

Ms Allan said work would be staggered so that they did not create further headaches.

“We don’t want to see for example in the northern suburbs, the road network and the rail network shut at the same time,” she said.

“The last couple of summers we perhaps haven’t travelled as much and we haven’t gone as far from home because of the pandemic.

“We’re wanting to remind Victorians of what had become a pattern of previous summers.

“To check the information on the Department of Transport website, to check the traffic conditions and most importantly over the summer period to drive safely.”