Lane closure causes traffic chaos

Lane closure causes traffic chaos

Harbour Esplanade was thrown into chaos by the closure of a traffic lane last month.

The lane in question is a left turning lane into Docklands Drive from Harbour Esplanade at the intersection of Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Drive, Dudley St and Footscray Rd.

Brookfield Multiplex closed the lane on Friday, July 5 due to construction of MAB’s development, The Quays.

The City of Melbourne granted approval for the lane closure and said the closure was required for kerb and channel works.

On the weekend of July 5 to July 8 the lane closure caused havoc due to Dudley St also being blocked off for regional rail link work.

As a result, cars exited the city by travelling down LaTrobe St and right onto Harbour Esplanade, causing major gridlock at the intersection.

Residents of the Conder, which is located next to The Quays, have been particularly frustrated as the only way to enter their car park is via Harbour Esplanade.

Conder Owners Corporation chairman Warren Mills said during the first weekend of lane closure it took him more than 30 minutes to travel down Harbour Esplanade to get home.

He said this experience was made all the worse by the fact there was no one on the building site for most of the weekend.

A City of Melbourne spokesperson said Brookfield Multiplex had been granted approval for a partial road closure and work from July 5 until July 26.

“Council officers further reviewed the arrangements as implemented and, on Monday 8 July amended the scope of the approval to require the road to be fully open to traffic in time for the evening peak,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Brookfield Multiplex was reviewing its traffic management plan to facilitate further infrastructure works without the need of a lane closure.

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