The results are in – 24/7 clearways on Punt Road have slashed travel times and reduced congestion.
Introduced by the Andrews Labor Government in August, 24/7 clearways along Punt Road have already helped one of Melbourne’s most critical north-south city bypasses get moving again.
As promised, the most significant improvements have been seen outside of peak periods and on weekends with the average travel time dropping by a massive 40 per cent.
As expected, the early trend suggests when you’re journeying along Punt Road outside of peak periods, it’s going to take between 4 and 6 minutes almost every time.
Whether you’re travelling on Saturday morning or a Tuesday night, whether you’re heading towards St Kilda beach or to the MCG, it’s going to be a more reliable and consistent journey so you can better plan your day.
For example, on a Saturday afternoon, motorists would spend around ten minutes travelling along Punt Road from Alexander Avenue to High Street.
Not anymore. The same Saturday afternoon journey is reduced to an easy five minutes.
Before 24/7 clearways, those doing the weekday school pick up at 3pm could spend 13 minutes travelling along Punt Road, from High Street to Alexander Avenue.
Last week, with 24/7 clearways in place, that same trip at that same time took an average of five minutes – from start to finish.
Previously, parked cars would clog up Punt Road right in the middle of the day, when people are trying to get things done. Those choke points are gone.
VicRoads will continue to evaluate the success of 24/7 clearways on Punt Road and will consider if network clearway times could be extended to other major roads.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“We’ve put people first by slashing travel times along Punt Road making it faster and more reliable for motorists.”
“Whether you’re picking the kids up at school or travelling to the MCG to watch the footy travelling on Punt Road will now be faster and more reliable.”
“We’ve made sure that motorists will no longer be stuck behind a parked car. The former Liberal Government talked about it but only a Labor Government delivered shorter travel times for motorists.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020