Melbourne 2017: The city as a construction zone as major projects begin in earnest
Melbourne 2017: The city as a construction zone as major projects begin in earnest
An artist's impression of the St Kilda Road area near the Shrine of Remembrance during Melbourne Metro Rail
construction, as imagined by a group opposing the current construction method for the project. Photo: Jason Doherty
DECEMBER 31 2016
Disruption will be the buzzword for Melbourne in 2017, as the infrastructure works planned for the city make their presence felt with major closures and delays.
The Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel is the biggest public transport project the city has seen in 35 years and the impact of construction will be just as significant.
In just a few months, City Square will be fenced off as construction machinery rolls in to begin work in the heart of the CBD.
Adding to the upheaval, the project coincides with road widening works, booming building construction and level crossing removals, including a six-week construction blitz to remove rail crossings at Blackburn Road, Blackburn, and Heatherdale Road, Mitcham, starting on Wednesday.
Minister for Transport and Major Projects Jacinta Allan said 2017 would be a "pivotal year" for infrastructure construction.
"From the beginning we have told Victorians there will be disruptions and noise due to works across the state; most people understand that inconvenience is a part of major construction," Ms Allan said.
"There will be disruption – but it's disruption with a purpose to build what our state needs so Victorians can get home to their loved ones safer and sooner."
Infrastructure expert Dr Chris Hale said Melburnians were facing a "very difficult period", with motorists affected by lane closures and pedestrians forced off footpaths.
But most importantly, he said the public transport network would come under great strain as more people turned to train and bus services to avoid road congestion.
"The problem is going to be that there simply isn't the capacity and there hasn't been counter measures from government to increase supply of public transport," he said.
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