The major upgrade of the South Melbourne Sewer, now in the early planning stages for Stage 2, will impact bike routes over the next few years.
The existing sewer under Kingsway is 125 years old.
The new alignment, mainly through local South Melbourne streets, keeps mainly out of the way of bike riders, except for a busy section of Moray Street.
Major construction of the 1.6-kilometre pipeline will not be underway until mid-2026, however investigation works get underway this month.
Stages 2 and 3 will run through into 2029, with Stage 1 having been completed last year.
The sewer upgrade will increase the capacity of the sewerage network to cater for population growth and future-proof the sewerage network.
Stage 2 will include installing a new underground sewer pipe and maintenance holes running from the corner of Stead Street and Palmerston Crescent, heading north up Tope Street and terminating near the corner of Clark Street
and City Road, Southbank.
This stage will also include a proposed sewage pump station on Market Street, South Melbourne, near Kingsway.
Soon, riders through this area of South Melbourne may encounter contractors conducting visual inspections, drilling small holes to collect soil samples and locating underground services using ground-penetrating radar and non-destructive digging.
Traffic management, including lane closures, traffic lights, detours and road closures, will be temporarily in place to safely guide traffic around our work areas.
Standard working hours will be Monday to Saturday 7am and 5pm, weather permitting.
When major works get underway next year, more detailed information will be provided regarding impacts on bike routes.
When major works get underway next year, more detailed information will be provided regarding impacts on bike routes.
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