Clearway times have been extended across the City of Boroondara as part of the Brumby Labor Government’s $113 million Keeping Melbourne Moving plan to improve public transport reliability and traffic flow on key arterial roads.
 
Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said VicRoads had completed the extension of the morning peak clearways to operate from 6.30am to 10am. 

Afternoon peak clearways now operate from between 3pm and 7pm for about 100 metres on either side of a traffic-signalled intersection and from 4pm to 7pm along the rest of the clearway.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action now to keep Melbourne moving, building a better and safer transport system, so people can spend more time with family and less time in traffic,” Mr Pallas said.

“Clearways will also be more strictly enforced, with parked cars blocking traffic during clearway times to be towed away, so people will need to carefully read the clearway signs to check the times and ensure they are complying.

“The new clearways will also improve public transport travel times and reliability, as they provide an additional lane for trams and buses to get passengers to their destinations easier.”

Extended clearways are now in place across the City of Boroondara, including on High Street and Cotham Road in Kew, Toorak Road in Glen Iris, Riversdale Road and Burwood Road in Hawthorn, and Burke Road in Hawthorn East.

More than 160 clearways within 10 kilometres of the Melbourne CBD are being extended to run from 6.30am to 10am and from 3pm or 4pm to 7pm as part of Keeping Melbourne Moving. About 80 per cent of the required clearway changes have so far been completed.

Mr Pallas said the Brumby Labor Government recognised the need to balance the interests of local traders, shoppers and commuters and was working with communities to ensure parking arrangements and safety issues were addressed.

“To improve safety along the High Street retail precinct we’re also implementing a reduced 40km/h time based speed limit through the shopping strip, between Denmark Street and Derby Street, from early next year,” he said.

“This change will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists who use this popular retail precinct without having an adverse effect on drivers and traffic flow.”

The new High Street strip shopping speed limit is just one measure VicRoads is implementing from the Clearways Implementation Reference Group recommendations. Other changes being investigated include installing directional parking signs and changing loading zone areas.

“VicRoads has been working closely with local traders and the City of Boroondara to minimise the potential impact these changes will have on the area,” Mr Pallas said.