City Notice: Major Eastern Freeway Closure and Infrastructure Updates

Transport and Road Disruptions

Commuters and residents are advised of significant travel disruptions scheduled for Saturday, 7 February 2026. The most critical impact involves the Eastern Freeway, which will experience a major weekend closure as part of ongoing upgrade works. All citybound lanes between Doncaster Road and Bulleen Road will be closed from 10:00 PM Friday until 5:00 AM Monday morning.

• Eastern Freeway Ramps: Entry ramps to the citybound freeway will be closed at Springvale Road, Blackburn Road, Middleborough Road, Elgar Road, and Doncaster Road.
• Travel Delays: Motorists should expect delays of up to 60 minutes. Suggested detours include using the Maroondah Highway or Heidelberg Road.
• Elizabeth Street: Night-time closures will be in effect on Elizabeth Street between Franklin Street and Therry Street from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM for stormwater drainage renewal. Motorists and cyclists are encouraged to seek alternative routes via Queen Street.

Public Works and Utilities

The City of Melbourne and Victorian utility providers are undertaking several essential infrastructure projects to improve long-term service reliability. Residents may notice increased activity in the following areas:

• Elizabeth Street Pedestrian Access: Footpath reinstatement and bluestone works are continuing near the Therry Street intersection. While pedestrian access is maintained, some diversions are in place near construction zones.
• Water Infrastructure: Greater Western Water is continuing watermain renewal works in the CBD. While Flinders Lane works typically occur Sunday through Thursday, localized site preparations and equipment storage may impact street parking in the vicinity over the weekend.

Health and Environment Advisories

EPA Victoria has issued updates regarding environmental monitoring across the metropolitan area. While general air quality remains stable, several localized monitoring sites are currently offline for technical maintenance.

• Air Quality Monitoring: Technicians are working to restore sulfur dioxide (SO2) monitoring at the Footscray station. Real-time data for this specific metric may be unavailable on Saturday.
• Water Quality: With the summer season ongoing, beach users are encouraged to check the daily Beach Report before swimming in Port Phillip Bay, especially following any localized rain events that may impact water safety.

Community and Culture

Public Record Office Victoria invites residents to the Victorian Archives Centre Gallery to view the Rewind Forward exhibition. This display features works from the 2025 Creatives in Residence and is open to the public this Saturday. Additionally, preparation for Victoria’s Pride Street Party will begin in the Collingwood and Fitzroy areas, with minor parking restrictions expected ahead of the main event on Sunday, 8 February.