Work is continuing on the Swanston Street (Grattan Street - Franklin Street) tram improvements project. Improvements include:
- two pairs of platform tram stops between Victoria Street and Grattan Street, traffic signal changes to assist improved tram priority at intersections,
- a right turn ban for traffic from Swanston Street (southbound) to Victoria Street (westbound),
- the installation of a Tramway between Franklin Street and Grattan Street, and
- maintained bicycle/vehicle separation.
The new tram stops at stop 3 Lincoln Square and stop 6 Victoria Street are now open for use.
Weekend works are now complete. Further works to finish the project will be done during weekdays over the following five weeks.
Swanston Street will be open to vehicles during weekdays. However, there will be some lane closures in place to ensure safety while the works are completed. Completion works for traffic signal modifications and upgrade to the separation kerbing will be completed in the following two months.
The Swanston Street tram corridor is one of the busiest in the world. Each year more than 55 million tram passengers travel between Melbourne Central and the University of Melbourne.
Public consultation work carried out in 2010 was presented to the City of Melbourne for its consideration. In April 2011, Melbourne City Council’s Future Melbourne Committee met and approved this project.
Tram travel time along Swanston Street will improve significantly by reducing delays to trams caused by passenger pick up and drop off as well as the right turning vehicles blocking tram movement.
Tram travel time along Swanston Street will improve significantly by reducing delays to trams caused by passenger pick up and drop off as well as the right turning vehicles blocking tram movement.
The project includes replacing several existing older style tram stops with two pairs of platform tram stops. Instead of tram stops two and three, there will be a new platform stop at Pelham Street. A new platform tram stop between Cardigan Terrace and Cornell Place will replace tram stops four and six.
Platform tram stops significantly improve safety, provide greater accessibility for passengers and reduce boarding times. All platform tram stops are constructed to standards that meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992)
The bicycle lanes will not be impacted by the construction of the platform tram stops. To maintain car/bicycle separation, ThinkTram is installing separation kerbing along the length of the bicycle lane adjacent to the platform stop.
Changes to the traffic lights at Franklin Street, Victoria Street, Queensberry Street and Grattan Street will give trams more priority. There will be fully controlled right turns from Swanston Street to Franklin Street west, Swanston Street to Victoria Street west and Swanston Street to Queensberry Street in both directions.
Tramways were introduced to Melbourne in November 2009, under the revised Road Rules. Tramways have overhead signs and raised dividing strips or two yellow lines beside the tram tracks. Tramways ensure that trams keep moving by banning vehicles from turning right and making u-turns across the tram tracks.
View a plan of the Swanston Street tram project [PDF,4.1MB] (opens in new window)
This project aims to improve passenger safety and tram priority along Swanston Street between Franklin and Grattan Streets, Carlton.