More trees and bike lanes part of pedestrian-friendly changes to busy City Rd, Southbank

A TREE-lined median strip, more separated bike lanes and three extra traffic lights will be part of a major council makeover proposed for busy City Rd in Southbank.

City Rd in Southbank.

A TREE-lined median strip, more separated bike lanes and three extra traffic lights will be part of a major council makeover proposed for busy City Rd in Southbank.

Six slip lanes will also be removed and peak-hour commuters will endure slower travel times.

More trees and fewer on-street carparks are also included in the City of Melbourne City Rd masterplan to be considered by councillors on Tuesday.

Proposed change to City Rd near Arts Centre, Southbank as part of Melbourne city council's City Rd Masterplan

Proposed change to City Rd near Arts Centre, Southbank as part of Melbourne city council's City Rd Masterplan

The $35.8 million pedestrian-friendly plan comes after two years of consultation and in response to the boom in the riverside suburb.

About 18,250 people live in Southbank. This will rise to 25,000 by 2021 as more high-rises are completed. A high proportion of residents walk to work or to public transport.

Most of the streetscape changes are between Clarendon St and Power St.

The eastern end serves as an arterial road including as a CityLink bypass and has the most traffic with 45,900 vehicles a day.

Access to the Arts Centre and Hamer Hall will be improved for pedestrians. Other proposed changes include:

THREE bus and tram stops to be improved;

TREE-LINED median strip between Power St and the Kings Way overpass;

REDEVELOPMENT of the Kings Way undercroft for community or sports use;

98 new street trees; and

40 on-street carparking spaces removed.

Proposed change to City Rd near Boyd Community Hub, Southbank as part of city council's City Rd Masterplan

Proposed change to City Rd near Boyd Community Hub, Southbank as part of city council's City Rd Masterplan

An extra pedestrian crossing is proposed for traffic-heavy Alexandra Ave between the St Kilda Rd overpass and Linlithgow Ave, linking Alexandra Gardens and Queen Victoria Gardens.

Traffic is expected to slow in peak hour. A morning trip between Linlithgow Ave and Cecil St in South Melbourne will take nine minutes, ­almost two minutes longer. The return journey in the evening will be 97 seconds slower, according to traffic modelling.

A total of 700m of separated bicycle lanes will be created ­although some of the lanes will be directed away from City Rd and into Kavanagh St and Southbank Boulevard.

Council transport spokeswoman Cr Cathy Oke said the plan had been developed with VicRoads and major stakeholders, including residents.

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