Victorian infrastructure projects will continue through summer as Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel near completion.
Major construction works across Victoria will continue through the summer period as the state government prepares to open two significant transport projects in the coming weeks. Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel are both scheduled to launch before February, with preparatory works affecting multiple train lines and roads across Melbourne during the holiday season.
From 30 November, passengers can travel through Metro Tunnel and its five new stations as part of a Summer Start program.
Extra services will run with free public transport on weekends for all Victorians until the Big Switch occurs on Sunday, 1 February.
That switchover will overhaul Victoria’s entire train network and deliver more than 1000 additional services.
Major summer works – Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel
- When: Late November 2025–February 2026
- Where: Metro Melbourne and regional Victoria
- Train lines affected: Sandringham, Frankston, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Werribee, Williamstown, Sunbury, Altona Loop
- Roads affected: West Gate Bridge, Eastern Freeway (Doncaster Rd–Middleborough Rd), M80 (Plenty Rd–Greensborough Bypass), Dingley Bypass, Bay Road (Cheltenham), Princes Freeway (Clyde Rd, Berwick), Point Cook Road, Ballan Road, Epping Road, Peninsula Link (Frankston-Flinders Rd–Moorooduc Hwy)
- CBD tram routes: 86 and 96 (mid-February)
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
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Buses will replace trains on Sandringham and Frankston lines between 9pm Wednesday, 7 January and the last train Sunday, 11 January. Selected weeknight replacements will also affect parts of the Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston, Werribee, Williamstown, Sunbury and Sandringham lines throughout December and January as track works continue.
Annual maintenance on West Gate Bridge begins Boxing Day evening with lane closures and potential delays of up to 60 minutes. Three outbound lanes close from 9pm Friday, 26 December to 6pm Monday, 29 December, while two citybound lanes remain open until 6am Sunday, 4 January. Motorists will have access to the new West Gate Tunnel as an alternative for the first time, with new road signs appearing in coming weeks ahead of the tunnel’s December opening.
North East Link Project works will close the Eastern Freeway between Doncaster Road and Middleborough Road from 10pm Wednesday, 7 January to 5am Monday, 12 January for removal of the old Doncaster Road bridge. Overnight closures on the M80 between Plenty Road and Greensborough Bypass will occur from December through February.
Suburban Rail Loop construction continues with lane closures on Dingley Bypass for up to eight nights in December and traffic changes on Bay Road near the future Cheltenham Station from late January. Level crossing removal works proceed in Newport with buses replacing inbound trains through the Altona Loop until April and weekend Werribee Line replacements in February.
Road upgrades include weekend closures on Princes Freeway at Clyde Road in Berwick, plus works at Thompson and Berwick-Cranbourne Roads, Point Cook Road, Ballan Road and Epping Road. Peninsula Link works run from Saturday, 22 November to Sunday, 14 December between Frankston-Flinders Road and Moorooduc Highway, with all lanes reopening for the holiday period before crews return in February.
CBD tram routes 86 and 96 will experience changes from Monday, 16 February to Thursday, 26 February for major intersection upgrades at Bourke and Spencer Streets. With 87 level crossings already removed, the government encourages Victorians to plan ahead and allow extra travel time throughout summer.
For more information, head here.
