Article updated Tuesday 13 August.
Stage two of the major upgrade of tram stops and tracks along La Trobe Street kicks off on Friday, stretching from Queen Street to Victoria Street.
The works will have a major impact on traffic, with bike lanes closed 24/7 between Queen and Victoria Streets.
Sections of Swanston Street near La Trobe Street will also be closed to vehicles and bikes during the day from Monday 26 August to Thursday 29 August, 6am to 7pm, remaining open all other times under traffic management.
The major works will begin at 10.30pm on Friday August 16 and continue through to 4am, Friday 30 August.
Sections of La Trobe Street between Queen and Victoria streets will be closed and fenced off. Localised sections of La Trobe Street will have restricted access under traffic management within the work areas.
Queen, Elizabeth, Russell, Exhibition and Victoria streets will remain open to north-south traffic. These intersections may be closed for two to three nights for works within the intersection.
La Trobe Street will continue to be closed between Elizabeth and Russell streets until 3am on 31 August due to overhead works.
Traffic management and signage will be in place to direct traffic around the works.
There will be service changes to trams on La Trobe Street. There will also be changes to trams on Swanston Street from 26 August until 16 September.
Tram services will be disrupted during the major works stages.
There may be temporary footpath closures around the works, with local detours in place.
The project by the Department of Transport and Planning and Yarra Trams will provide 12 new level-access stops at six locations along La Trobe Street from Docklands Stadium (Stop D1), Spencer Street (Stop 1), William Street (Stop 3), Elizabeth Street (Stop 5), Swanston Street (Stop 6) and Exhibition Street (Stop 8).
The project will also provide better connectivity to the new State Library Station, which is part of the Metro Tunnel Project.
All stops will feature:
– raised platforms, to provide level boarding with low-floor trams
– new shelters and seating
– improved lighting
– real-time passenger information displays.
The Department of Transport and Planning has published this map of recommended detour routes for people on bikes.
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