Service changes and road closures over the Easter/ANZAC Day long weekend

As part of the modernisation of Melbourne's tram network, Yarra Trams will be replacing the tracks in Spencer St between Little Lonsdale St and Spencer St Bridge over the Easter and ANZAC Day long weekend (approximately 8pm Thursday 21 April to Wednesday 27 April).

Spencer St will be closed to all traffic between Little Lonsdale St and Flinders St over the long weekend. The tram tracks on the Spencer St Bridge will also be closed.

With Spencer Street closed, the following tram service changes will apply:

Route 48 trams from North Balwyn will terminate in Collins St at Spencer St.

Route 75 trams from Vermont South will cross Spencer St to continue along Flinders St to service Harbour Esplanade and the Docklands precinct, terminating at Stop D3 Bourke St and Harbour Esp.

Route 86 trams from Bundoora RMIT will terminate in Bourke St at Spencer St. A tram replacement bus will operate between the corner of Bourke and Queen Sts and Waterfront City Docklands.

Route 96 trams from East Brunswick will terminate in Bourke St at Spencer St. Trams from St Kilda will terminate at Port Junction. A tram replacement bus will operate between Port Junction and the corner of Bourke and Queen Sts. 

Route 109 trams from Box Hill will terminate in Collins St at Spencer St. Trams from Port Melbourne will terminate at Port Junction. A tram replacement bus will run between Port Junction and the corner of Collins and Queen Sts.

Route 112 trams from West Preston will terminate in Collins St at Spencer St. Trams from St Kilda will terminate at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Albert Road. A tram replacement bus will run between MSAC and the corner of Queen and Collins Sts.

Route 70 and the City Circle will not be affected by the works.

Accessibility during the works:

Due to operational requirements during the tram track works, low floor accessible trams will not operate on Route 96 between Stop 1 Bourke and Spencer Streets and Stop 27 Nicholson and Blyth Streets.

During this period, passengers that require an accessible service within the CBD may wish to use SmartBus Routes 905, 906, 907 or 908 along Lonsdale Street. These high frequency services are operated by low floor accessible buses and are an ideal alternative between Stop 1 Bourke and Spencer Streets and Stop 10 Nicholson and Albert Streets, the section of Route 96 with platforms stops. These SmartBus services operate from first to last tram.

Low floor accessible trams will operate on Route 96 between Stop 125 Port Junction and Stop 140 Acland and Barkly Streets.

The works:

The track renewal works will commence at approximately 8pm on Thursday 21 April and continue 24 hours a day until before the first tram on Wednesday 27 April. 

Substantial noise will be generated along the worksite from Friday 22 April as excavators break concrete in order to remove the existing track. Machinery and trucks will also generate noise during the construction period. The noisiest works will take place in the first two days of the construction.

There will also be pre-works in Spencer St between Jeffcott and Batman Streets and near the Yarra River from 11 April. For details of these works, please click here to view the works reminder letter that has been distributed to residents and traders in the Spencer St and Docklands areas.

Footpaths will remain open alongside the fenced construction zone in Spencer Street. Pedestrian access will be maintained to all shops, businesses and properties adjacent to the construction site, including Southern Cross Station and the SkyBus terminal. 

Pedestrians will be able to cross Spencer Street at Collins Street and Little Collins Street as well as at Flinders Street and La Trobe Street.Good Friday Appeal and football patrons will be guided by traffic controllers to the Spencer Street crossings before and after the fundraising event and AFL matches at Etihad Stadium.