The CBD street that runs between Melbourne City Baths and Queen Victoria Market has been plagued by construction works for about as long as we can remember. Well, it’s actually only been seven years. So maybe our memory just isn’t that good. But in great news, it's finally reopened – hooray!
Franklin Street was closed off due to building works relating to the Metro Tunnel project, which is edging closer to its grand opening – it recently had a full weekend-long trial.
The newly opened street is now home to one of the entrances to the State Library Station. It’s also been redesigned as a tree-lined pedestrian promenade, with a small, shady park that has an area for outdoor dining as well as gardens and public art.
Other new features of the revamped street include wider footpaths, new lighting and seating, landscaping and separated bike lanes in both directions with a raised kerb for safer cycling. There’s now one traffic lane in each direction between Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, with on-street kerbside parking.
The site will be an access point for the new subterranean train station, as well as a concourse that connects to Melbourne Central. Once it’s all opened, you’ll be able to catch train services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines from there.
So while the exact Metro Tunnel opening date is still unclear, there’s signs that it could be sooner than we think. Watch this space for updates.
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