Traffic jams, public transport delays and road closures for months to come in Melbourne

Melbourne commuters are facing months of road closures and public transport delays as the Allan government scrambles to finish Big Build projects. See which areas will be affected.

Road closures and public transport disruptions will plague Melbourne for months to come, as the government races to finish Big Build projects across the city.

The upcoming “spring activity” announced on Friday will cause delays for commuters from the end of August through to late October.

Lengthy road closures starting at the end of the month are set to hammer businesses in Melbourne’s southeast with logistic headaches and disruptions for customers.

Lengthy road closures starting at the end of the month are set to hammer businesses in Melbourne’s southeast. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Victorian transport infrastructure minister Danny Pearson confirmed Clayton Rd, and several others, would be closed to commuters from August 27 until October to accommodate work on six Suburban Rail Loop East stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill.

“We need to close Clayton Rd to vehicular traffic,” Mr Pearson said.

Despite the disruptions, he said the vibrant and bustling shopping precinct was still very much “open for business” and was adamant businesses would not be badly affected.

“All those businesses along Clayton Rd will still be operational and I would encourage anyone who frequents there to continue to do so over the coming months,” he added.

Much of Melbourne will be disrupted by construction. Picture: David Caird

Business owners along Clayton Rd told the Herald Sun they were frustrated with the closures, saying customers would find parking difficult.

Owner of the Malaysia Garden Restaurant said they were forced to accept there was simply “nothing we can do”.

“We have operated for 39 years and have loyal customers … we just hope for alternative parking around the area,” the owner said.

“They’re trying to accommodate for us.

“We understand that it’s for our future.”

Prompted about the road closures back in February this year, the owner said they hoped special parking arrangements would be made available for business owners on Clayton Rd.

While vehicles will be blocked, emergency service vehicles will be allowed to access to enter Monash Hospital and transport minister Danny Pearson said workers on the ground will assist patients.

The state government is racing to complete Big Build projects across the city. Picture: Ian Currie

“We’re going to have people along that corridor directing traffic,” he said.

”If your daughter’s got an ACL injury at netball or your son has dislocated his shoulder and you want to go to Monash Hospital … we’re going to have people there to provide directions.”

The Burwood Hwy, Coleman Parade and Whitehorse Rd will also be subject to lane and road closures over the same time period.

Over in the west, the M80 Ring Road Altona bound to the West Gate Fwy will be closed for more than two weeks from September 6 to September 23.

The Williamstown Rd exit ramp will be also closed from early October through to mid-November for a walking and cycling bridge to be built overhead.

Included in the “spring activity”, a section of Footscray Rd will be closed from October 1 to October 20.

Buses will replace trains for some sections of the Sunbury, Cranbourne to Pakenham and Gippsland rail lines on the weekends in October and November.

Sections of the Hurstbridge line will also be affected for three weeks in October as tracks and signalling is upgraded to accommodate the new North East Link.

Motorists are being warned of delays along Racecourse Rd, McGregor Rd and the Princes Hwy in Pakenham as works start to improve bottlenecks and traffic flow.