Major Evening Rail Shutdowns and Freeway Closures Hit Wednesday Commute

Major Evening Rail Disruptions and Freeway Closures Hit Wednesday Commute

Commuters in Melbourne should prepare for a complex travel day on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, with significant disruptions scheduled for the evening rail network and several major arterial roads. While the morning peak is expected to flow relatively normally for most, those traveling late in the day or heading toward the airport will face specific delays and detours.

Evening Public Transport Shutdowns

The biggest impact for public transport users will occur on the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines. Starting from 7:15 PM, maintenance works will prevent trains from running through the Metro Tunnel. This means that Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, and Anzac stations will be closed for the remainder of the evening. Commuters on these lines are advised to adjust their plans as follows:

• Cranbourne and Pakenham Lines: Trains will only operate between their respective terminals and South Yarra. Passengers heading to the city must change at South Yarra for Frankston or Sandringham line services.
• Sunbury Line: Buses will replace trains between North Melbourne and Sunbury. Shuttle buses will also be operating in a loop to connect North Melbourne with the closed Arden and Parkville precincts.

Major Roadworks and Freeway Impacts

Drivers on the Eastern Freeway continue to face significant delays. The Bulleen Road city-bound exit ramp remains closed 24/7 for critical works on the North East Link project, with authorities warning of delays of up to 20 minutes. Additionally, lanes on the Eastern Freeway between Doncaster and Bulleen roads are currently split under concrete structures, requiring reduced speeds and extra caution.

Other notable road closures for Wednesday night include:

• Western Freeway (Melton): All eastbound lanes will be closed between Ferris Road and Paynes Road from 8:00 PM until 7:00 AM Thursday morning for resurfacing.
• CityLink: The Gibdon Street entry ramp heading inbound will be closed from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
• Boronia Road (Wantirna): Eastbound lanes between Stud Road and Mountain Highway will close at 7:00 PM for resurfacing, with detours in place via Mountain Highway.

CBD and Airport Updates

In the central city, Little Collins Street remains closed to all traffic between Exhibition and Russell Streets from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM for bluestone pavement works. For those traveling to Melbourne Airport, please be aware that Public Pick-up Lane 2 (Carriageway 4) will be closed from 11:00 PM on Wednesday night until 6:00 AM Thursday. Travelers should use Lane 1 for all pick-ups during this window and allow extra time for potential congestion on the Tullamarine Freeway due to ongoing lane closures near Mickleham Road.