Infrastructure blitz to cause Melbourne traffic chaos for years

Winter commuter chaos is likely to be the norm until 2025, with major roads and rail lines to be affected by a massive building blitz.

A wave of traffic disruption is set to hit commuters this winter, including the shutdown of an inner-west rail line for almost three months.

With an unprecedented $90 billion worth of infrastructure projects to be built in the next four years, Victorians are being warned to get used to the growing pains.

Ten major roads and nine rail lines will be affected by winter works, with the longest shutdown being on the Williamstown line.

Buses will replace trains from Williamstown to Newport for 85 days from August 20 to allow workers to dig a 750m rail trench under ­Ferguson Street and build a new North Williamstown ­station.

A suite of other grade separations will be done in ­August, including on the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South – the 47th set of boom gates pulled out.

The government is likely to have completed its signature 2014 election promise of 50 level-crossing removals earlier than planned.

Ten major roads will be affected by winter works. Picture: Sarah Matray

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said a level crossing was being ­removed on average every four weeks.

“While we always try to minimise disruption, we thank Victorians for their ­patience as we get on with ­delivering the projects that we promised,” Ms Allan said.

“Victoria’s Big Build is supporting 50,000 jobs through work that better connects communities and gets them where they need to go.

“Works are revving up this winter right across the state as we deliver the projects we ­promised.”

The government has come under scrutiny over major project cost blowouts in ­recent months, with budget papers revealing a $3.8 billion overrun on its biggest road and rail builds.

About a quarter of those projects have also had timelines shifted.

Treasurer Tim Pallas ­defended the performance of the Big Build during his budget speeches, however, and said the unprecedented spending on major projects over the next four years was critical to the economy.

With more projects on the go, winter travel chaos is likely to be the norm for the next four years – especially as more people head back to work.

The longest rail shutdown will be on the Williamstown line.

Other major disruptions this winter include on the Monash Freeway, where ­upgrades and widenings are happening, and at the M80 Ring Road.

The West Gate Freeway will also be affected by road widening as part of the troubled West Gate Tunnel project.

On the rail network, services will be disrupted during upgrades to the Sunbury, Geelong and Warrnambool lines.

All modes of transport will be hit by works, with tram track renewal work to close St Kilda Road at the end of June and Swan Street in Richmond in August.

Buses will replace trains along sections of the Lilydale line between July 19 and 24, and on sections of the Frankston line between July 25 and August 1.