Commuters and motorists warned to prepare for major travel disruptions during July

The next round of major construction works involving Metro Tunnel and other projects will mean significant disruptions for commuters and motorists in July. See how you will be affected.

Travel on several train lines will be disrupted during July.

Victorians have been warned to brace for major road and public transport disruptions next month due to major construction works involving Metro Tunnel and other projects.

Several suburban and regional train lines will be affected, as will some tram services.

Drivers and commuters are urged to plan ahead and allow more time for trips.

On the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines buses will replace trains between Flinders St and Caulfield for a week from Saturday July 6, and between Flinders St and Westall on the weekend of July 13 and 14.

Travel on several train lines will be disrupted during July. Picture: Adam Yip

Buses will replace trains on the Frankston and Stony Point lines between Flinders St and Caulfield from July 6 to 12, and also to Moorabbin, Mordialloc and Stony Point during July.

Buses will also replace trains on the Mernda and Sandringham lines.

Tram services affected will be routes 3/3a, 16 and 67 from July 20 to 28.

Country services to face disruption are the Ballarat line, with buses to replace trains from June 24 to July 14.

The Gippsland Line will see buses replace all trains between Southern Cross and Traralgon/Bairnsdale from July 6 to 14.

A Public Transport Victoria statement said that more people will be using roads, trams and different train lines due to the disruption caused by works involving Metro Tunnel, level crossing removals and regional train line upgrades.

Traffic will be affected by Metro Tunnel works. Picture: David Caird

“These works will deliver the biggest ever upgrade of power, signalling and communications to Melbourne’s train network in preparation for the Metro Tunnel, paving the way for more trains, more often across the network,” it said.

PTV has issued tips to help people plan for the construction blitz, such as avoiding peak times by travelling before 7am or after 9am.

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By touching on or off before 7.15am metro train travel is free.

Other tips include work remotely for the first or last two hours of the day, and if possible work from home or from another office outside the city one day a week.

Also consider carpooling, walking, cycling or other transport options.

Visit ptv.vic.gov.au and vicroads.vic.gov.au for full details of disruptions.

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@JMasanauskas