Major Delays Expected: Eastern Freeway Citybound Closure This Weekend

Significant Disruptions on the Eastern Freeway

Commuters heading towards the city from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs face significant travel challenges today, Saturday, 7 February 2026. As part of the ongoing Eastern Freeway Upgrade and North East Link works, all citybound lanes on the Eastern Freeway are closed between Doncaster Road and Bulleen Road. This full closure remains in effect until 5:00 am on Monday, 9 February.

Transport authorities are warning motorists to expect delays of up to 60 minutes. To help manage traffic flow, several key entry ramps have been shut, including those at Springvale Road, Blackburn Road, Middleborough Road, Elgar Road, and Doncaster Road. Additionally, the Bulleen Road citybound exit ramp is currently closed for long-term construction and is not expected to reopen until mid-March.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible or utilize detours via Tram Road, Manningham Road, and Thompson Road. If you are travelling from further east, consider using High Street or the Monash Freeway as alternative routes to reach the CBD.

CBD Roadworks and Local Closures

Travel within the central city also requires careful planning today due to multiple infrastructure projects:

• Elizabeth Street: A full northbound closure is in place between Franklin Street and Therry Street for stormwater drainage renewal. This work is part of a larger project to upgrade city footpaths and is expected to cause localized congestion near the Queen Victoria Market precinct.
• Queen Street: The intersection at Queen and Franklin Streets is also closed to northbound traffic, forcing diversions onto Peel Street or William Street.
• Southern Cross Station: While train services are running, a major escalator upgrade project is underway. Commuters should allow extra time to navigate the platforms, particularly during peak Saturday event times.

Public Transport and Special Operations

Following the full launch of the Metro Tunnel earlier this month, the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines are now operating through the new underground corridor. While this has significantly increased capacity, passengers are reminded that these lines no longer travel through the City Loop. If your destination is a City Loop station, you will need to change at Town Hall or State Library stations.

Early risers in the south-east may have also encountered minor delays on arterial roads between the Port of Hastings and Burwood. A massive transport operation involving the movement of tunnel boring machines took place overnight Friday into early Saturday morning. While the convoy has largely cleared, some temporary traffic management may still be visible in the Burwood area as equipment is staged.

For those using the tram network, most services are running to a standard Saturday timetable. However, Route 58 continues to experience stop closures on Kings Way, and passengers should check the latest app updates for minor diversions related to various inner-city community events scheduled for this afternoon.