Seven tram lines disrupted for works amid travel pain
Commuters are in for more travel pain across Melbourne, with seven bustling tram lines to be disrupted from tomorrow night. See which routes are affected.
Victoria
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The closure of a major CBD intersection for nine days will heap more misery on to Melbourne’s weary travelling public.
The corner of Spencer and Collins streets – near Southern Cross Station – will close in all directions for tram and power works from 10pm on Friday until 5am on July 10.
The disruption will affect seven different tram services – routes 11, 12, 30, 35, 48, 96 and 109.
The intersection revamp will mean a 500m detour for pedestrians and cause chaos to deliveries in the area.
The tram works come as nine of the Metro network’s 16 rail lines will be disrupted on Friday and this weekend, forcing tens of thousands of people coming into the city for footy and other events on to bus replacement services.
Travellers on the Werribee, Williamstown, Craigieburn, Sunbury, Stony Point, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston and Upfield lines will have to take the bus.
On some lines – Williamstown and Upfield – no trains are running on the entire route into the city centre at certain times.
Those services are ending near Flagstaff Gardens on King St, forcing passengers to walk to a tram or station to complete their journey.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said passengers and motorists were suffering “Big Build burnout”.
“We know it’s all in the name of a better transport network but after so many years, people are getting a bit tired of it all,’’ Mr Bowen said.
“On some lines, there have now been major disruptions every year since 2016.’’
Buses will also replace trains on all V/Line regional rail services in the coming weeks, continuing passengers’ frustrations.
Public transport users are advised to check the PTV website of any changes and delays to their journey.
Major road disruptions will continue across the city, including the ongoing closure of Glen Huntly Rd for level-crossing removal.
And in the west, the Dynon Rd arterial will remain closed between the CityLink inbound exit and Dryburgh St for another nine weeks.
The work is to allow further construction of the elevated roadway over Footscray Rd which will lead into the under-construction West Gate Tunnel.
The entry ramp from Geelong Rd on to the West Gate Freeway outbound will also remain shut until August 2.
And in Docklands, Wurundjeri Way will be single lane in each direction between Dudley and Collins streets until October 31.
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