Motorists on Melbourne’s busiest arterial road are a step closer to quicker, more reliable journeys, with works set to ramp up on the Streamlining Hoddle Street project around the notorious Punt Road/Swan Street intersection.
Works to transform the Punt Road and Swan Street junction into Victoria’s first Continuous Flow Intersection will intensify next month with teams working around the clock to minimise the length of disruptions.
Olympic Boulevard will temporarily close to vehicles and trams between Punt Road and AAMI Park from 7 to 12 February, allowing crews to upgrade tram tracks and install overhead lines to build a new accessible tram stop.
Traffic islands will also be built, and the road prepared for the new turning lane which will move right turns away from the intersection to prioritise the north-south movements and improve travel times for the 330,000 people that travel along and across Hoddle Street every day.
These significant changes to Melbourne’s busiest intersection will more green light time – improving traffic flow and reducing travel times on Hoddle Street and Punt Road.
Pedestrian detours will be in place, with drivers being advised to allow extra travel time when travelling via detour routes along Wellington Parade or Alexandra Avenue.
Tram passengers to and from the city on the route 70 tram will need to exit at Swan Street near Cremorne Street or AAMI Park and cross Punt Road at the pedestrian crossing. Alternatively, passengers can travel by train between Flinders Street and Richmond Station.
To prepare for this next stage of works, the right turn from Olympic Boulevard into Punt Road will be removed from 30 January 2019 and a temporary ban in place for the right turn from Punt Road into Swan Street.
The project will benefit all road users, with new turning lanes reducing the risk of vehicle crashes and pedestrian improvements making walking from Richmond Station to nearby landmark sporting venues safer.
This is the second major shut down for the project with the first used to complete critical upgrades on Hoddle Street at the Eastern Freeway and Johnston Street intersections.
On average, citybound commuters are saving three minutes on a round trip every day since the first stage of improvements were delivered, which include new p-turns at Johnston Street and an additional third lane onto Eastern Freeway.
Drivers are encouraged to visit Victoria’s Big Build website for works updates, detour information and to plan their journey. The project will be complete by the end of 2019.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier Jacinta Allan
“We’re giving drivers more go time on Hoddle Street and Punt Road – improving reliability and getting you to where you need to go faster.”
“Drivers handled last summer’s bigger shutdown on Hoddle Street incredibly well and I encourage the travelling public to be patient with us again and plan ahead while we make these major upgrades.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020