Tram improvement works on Elizabeth Street
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Yarra Trams will be replacing tracks in Elizabeth Street from Saturday 5 to Thursday 9 October. In addition to the track work foundations will be laid to prepare for the construction of three level access tram stops in Elizabeth Street.
Elizabeth Street
ABOVE: An artist's impression of what the completed stop at Elizabeth/Bourke Street will look like
Work will take place between Saturday 5 and Thursday 9 October. Tram service changes will be in place until last tram Wednesday night.
The stop upgrades will benefit passengers travelling on the busy corridor between Flinders Street and the Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne University, Royal Children's Hospital and on to the northern and western suburbs.
More than 210,000 people use routes 19, 57 and 59 on Elizabeth Street each week, making them the busiest tram stops in Melbourne's CBD that are yet to become accessible stops.
The replacement of 30-year-old tracks on Elizabeth Street between Flinders Street and La Trobe Street will meet modern network and tram fleet requirements, improve ride comfort for passengers and ensure a smoother road surface for all road users including motorists and cyclists.
At the same time, foundations will be laid for the construction of three accessible tram stops between Collins and Little Collins streets, Bourke and Little Bourke streets and Little Lonsdale and La Trobe streets.
The track and infrastructure upgrades provide additional options for future network development and help to minimise the risk of disruptions due to track faults.
Work to remove the old tracks will begin late in the evening of Friday 4 October and continue 24 hours a day until 5am on Thursday 10 October in time for the first tram of the Thursday morning peak.
Trams will use a temporary terminus at Franklin Street, one block north of La Trobe Street. Passengers who use Route 19, 57 and 59 trams are advised to use Swanston Street trams, the Route 55 tram via William and Market streets or City Loop trains between Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations.
All streets crossing Elizabeth Street will remain open throughout the project with the exception of Little Collins Street.
When Elizabeth Street reopens to trams and traffic on 10 October, two temporary tram stops will be in use until mid-November while the new accessible stops are completed.
Trams towards Flinders Street will use a temporary stop south of Bourke Street, while outbound trams will use a temporary stop north of La Trobe Street.
Bourke Street
Works will take place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October. Tram service changes will in place until last tram Sunday night.
Works zone
Service changes
