Motorists face extra time on Melbourne roads over Metro Tunnel works

VICROADS is warning drivers to allow an extra 15 minutes for journeys in the area around the Metro Tunnel works during the morning peak.

SOME Melbourne motorists are spending up to 22 minutes extra on the road heading home during the working week as a result of closed lanes on St Kilda Rd.

The travel time blowouts were revealed in VicRoads’ data collected as part of a $25 million congestion-response program to the Metro Tunnel works.

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The extra time in the afternoon gridlock equates to up to two full working weeks a year. But as VicRoads warns drivers to allow an extra 15 minutes for journeys in the area during the morning peak, the real time spent in gridlock could be higher.

St Kilda Rd is down to one lane each way. Picture: Josie Hayden

The main routes affected include Kings Way, Queens Rd and Dandenong Rd, where journey times increase by 4.4 minutes northbound and southbound drivers have an extra 1.1 minutes on their journey.

Punt Rd travel times rose by 3.8 minutes going north and 1.9 minutes going south. Canterbury Rd traffic times increased 1.9 minutes southward and Beaconsfield Pde drivers were in traffic for an extra 3.5 minutes.

Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, said disruption was the price of progress.

St Kilda Rd was reduced to one lane in each direction between Dorcas St and Toorak Rd West this year.