One of inner Melbourne’s key east-west bike corridors – Grattan Street through Parkville – will reopen to traffic this week.
The street has been closed since February 2018 when work began on building the underground Parkville Station, which is now nestled 32 metres below the street.
After more five years of banishment, riders travelling to and through the Melbourne University, hospital and medical research precinct in Parkville, will be able to work and classes easily and quickly.
The new street will be more welcoming, offering modern bike lanes for riders and paths and crossings for pedestrians and, from next year, people using the station.
The upgraded corridor includes a dedicated bike lane in each direction, a single car lane each way, wider footpaths, and a prominent collection of bus stops for the many routes servicing the street.
Buses will not be returning to the street immediately, but when they do riders will need to be careful of students crossing the bike lanes to catch the bus.
Bicycle hook-turn boxes are included at key locations such as the Grattan Street/Royal Parade/Elizabeth Street intersection, and the project has delivered plenty of bicycle parking spaces across the precinct.
The reopening includes access from Bouverie, Leicester and Berkeley streets, while Barry Street will remain closed to traffic.
Station infrastructure, including station entrances, tunnel ventilation shafts, goods lift and ancillary buildings will remain fenced off until the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025.
Further east, the City of Melbourne has nearly completed a bike lane upgrade of the entire length of Grattan Street through Carlton, which will result in a high-quality connection from Wreckyn Street in North Melbourne to Rathdowne Street at the Melbourne Museum.
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