Burnley Tunnel Re-opens for Morning Commute; Major Berwick Delays Expected Tonight

Melbourne Traffic and Commute Update: Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Commuters across Melbourne can expect a relatively clear run through the city’s major tunnels this morning, though significant disruptions are scheduled for the south-eastern suburbs and northern corridors later this evening. As the city continues to adapt to the recent opening of the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel projects, several maintenance and upgrade works remain active across the network.

Morning Tunnel and Arterial Status

The Burnley Tunnel and the Kings Way entry ramp have successfully re-opened as of 5:00 am this morning following scheduled overnight maintenance. While the tunnel is now clear for the morning peak, drivers may still encounter residual congestion as the heavy flow of traffic from the M1 Monash Freeway resumes its normal pattern.

In the north, Edgars Road in Thomastown remains a point of concern. Southbound lane closures between Mahoneys Road and the Metropolitan Ring Road are concluding today. Motorists should remain alert for changed traffic conditions and localized delays as crews finalize asphalt resurfacing works in the area.

Evening Disruptions and Major Roadworks

Drivers in the south-east should prepare for significant delays starting tonight at 8:00 pm. The Princes Freeway in Berwick will be closed in both directions at the Clyde Road overpass. This closure is part of the ongoing Clyde Road Upgrade, which is currently in a major construction phase to install heavy bridge beams. Recommended detours include:

• Northbound: Detour via the Princes Freeway and Princes Highway.
• Southbound: Detour via the Princes Freeway and O’Shea Road.
• Delays of up to 25 minutes are expected through the Berwick area during these nightly works.

Further evening disruptions will impact CityLink (M2). Starting at 9:00 pm tonight, up to three lanes will be closed between Moreland Road and Albion Street for line marking. A reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be enforced. Additionally, in Keysborough, Cheltenham Road will see all westbound lanes closed between Chapel Road and Perry Road from 8:30 pm until 5:30 am tomorrow. Detours will be in place via Lonsdale Street and the Dandenong Bypass.

Public Transport Alerts

Following the full commencement of the Metro Tunnel services, commuters are reminded that the Frankston Line has now officially returned to the Caulfield tunnels within the City Loop. Passengers are advised to check the updated platform information at Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations, as the new cross-city service patterns are now in full effect.

Ongoing infrastructure works at Southern Cross Station continue to affect movement within the terminal. Escalator upgrade works are currently underway, meaning some access points between the concourse and platforms may be restricted. Please follow all directional signage and allow an extra five minutes for transfers between regional and metropolitan services.