How the pandemic has changed your commute

Motorists are facing major traffic headaches across the city – and one freeway is busier than it was before Covid. See how your commute has changed.

Traffic across the city has bounced back to 95 per cent of pre-Covid levels. Picture: David Geraghty

Traffic on city freeways and arterials is almost busting pre-pandemic levels, as Melburnians continue to shun public transport.

The latest Department of Transport figures reveal the Hume Fwy has even been busier than it was before the pandemic, as thousands of motorists return to roads.

Motorists are facing increased congestion after months of fewer cars on the road due to travel restrictions.

Traffic across the city has bounced back to 95 per cent of what it was on our roads pre-Covid.

Public transport patronage is just 54 per cent of its normal levels, although is recording a nine per cent increase every week.

The number of cars on the Hume Fwy exceeded its pre-pandemic normal in mid-November, with traffic levels at 102.6 per cent.

Hoddle St recorded 99.4 per cent of normal traffic levels, the Nepean Hwy 97.8 per cent and the West Gate Bridge 95.6 per cent.

Melbourne’s roads are getting clogged as the city bounces back from lockdown. Picture: Josie Hayden

The Eastern Freeway has also returned to its baseline, with up to 5800 vehicles travelling through the inbound Doncaster Rd section per hour.

Roads and Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the data showed Victorians were hitting the road in increasingly greater numbers.

It comes amid criticism that a string of construction projects were combining to cause chaos for commuters in Melbourne’s inner north.

A section of High St in Northcote is closed for the Merri Creek bridge upgrade, which is being carried out at the same time as major level crossing removal works take place on the nearby Mernda line.

Victorians are hitting the road in greater numbers. Picture: David Geraghty

The timing of the bridge project, which also includes tram track renewal works, has been labelled “poor planning” by Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen.

“All of that maintenance work is important, but they should be co-ordinating so that trams and trains aren’t knocked out at the same time as the roads,” he said.

“I hoped that the Department of Transport encompassing Public Transport Victoria and VicRoads would have meant much better co-ordination between transport modes, in this case it hasn’t happened.”

Nick Foa, Head of Transport Services at the transport department, said the government was working “incredibly hard” to deliver upgrades across the network.

Meanwhile, new research from the TAC has found Victorians are walking and riding bikes more since the beginning of the pandemic.

The survey found almost 40 per cent of respondents admitting to intentionally exceeding the speed limit in a 60km/h zone, with four in 10 also reporting they sped in a 100km/h zone.

TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore said people needed to make safe choices, with the roads getting busier and an increase in cyclists and pedestrians.