The Andrews Labor Government has launched a new campaign to educate drivers on how to navigate Victoria’s first continuous flow intersection, which will open at the corner of Punt Road and Swan Street from Sunday, 17 March.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan confirmed the opening date for the new intersection today, which will move right turns away from the busy corner, helping to relieve queuing caused by turning traffic.
The education campaign features a series of videos in five languages clearly demonstrating the new turning movements and instructing drivers which lanes to select on approach to the intersection.
Over the coming weeks engineering crews will work around the clock to install new line marking and directional signage to prepare for traffic to move through the intersection in the early hours of Sunday 17 March.
Construction of a new accessible tram stop on Swan Street and landscaping of surrounding areas will continue through the year, with all works expected to be complete by late 2019.
Once the intersection is operational, southbound drivers on Punt Road wanting to turn right will travel on new lanes dedicated to citybound traffic on Olympic Boulevard.
Drivers on Swan Street wishing to turn right into to Punt Road will use p-turns to travel towards the MCG, as will vehicles on Punt Road turning right to Swan Street to head towards Hawthorn.
The right turn from Olympic Boulevard onto Punt Road towards South Yarra has been permanently removed as part of these works.
Traffic signal times will be reallocated to through movements to give drivers more go time at green lights, prioritising the dominant flow of traffic on Hoddle Street and Punt Road.
Instructional videos works updates and more information about the Streamlining Hoddle Street project is available from roadprojects.vic.gov.au.
As noted by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“This will make getting through this notorious bottleneck quicker and more efficient for the 330,000 motorist that move through the Punt Road and Swan Street intersection every day.”
“Drivers have been using p-turns at Johnston Street for months now, so the movement is familiar. This campaign will further build awareness and help drivers choose the correct lane when approaching the intersection.”
