Metro Tunnel’s First Weekday Peak and Major Nighttime Closures for Monday

A Historic Morning for Rail Commuters

Monday, 2 February 2026, marks a significant turning point for Melbourne’s transport network. Following the official "Big Switch" yesterday, this morning is the first major weekday peak where the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines will run exclusively through the new Metro Tunnel. Commuters on these lines will no longer travel through the City Loop; instead, trains are now serving the five new underground stations: Anzac, Town Hall, State Library, Parkville, and Arden.

Passengers are encouraged to allow extra time to familiarize themselves with the new station layouts, particularly at Town Hall and State Library, which offer direct underground interchanges to the existing Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations. PTV staff remain on-site in high numbers to assist with wayfinding. While the new configuration aims to increase capacity, minor delays may occur as the network settles into this high-frequency operational phase.

Major Evening Road Disruptions: Burnley Tunnel

Motorists using the CityLink network tonight should prepare for significant diversions. Maintenance crews will be conducting essential works on the Burnley Tunnel, necessitating a full outbound closure from 9:00 pm on Monday, 2 February, until 5:00 am on Tuesday morning. Additionally, the Kings Way entry ramp into the Burnley Tunnel will be closed from 9:00 pm, with access from Hannah Street restricted starting at 8:00 pm.

Detours will be in place via Batman Avenue and the Monash Freeway. Heavy vehicles and city-bound commuters heading toward the southeast are advised to use the Princes Highway or City Road as alternatives. Speed limits will be reduced to 40km/h around work zones for the safety of maintenance staff.

Southeast Delays: Clyde Road Bridge Upgrade

In the southeast, the biggest phase of the Clyde Road Upgrade begins today. Starting tonight, Monday, 2 February, crews will begin installing massive 48-tonne bridge beams for the expanded Princes Freeway overpass in Berwick. This requires the total closure of the Princes Freeway at Berwick and the Clyde Road overpass between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am on weekdays throughout February.

• Drivers heading north on Clyde Road toward Berwick should detour via the Princes Freeway and Princes Highway.
• Southbound drivers should use the Princes Freeway and O’Shea Road.
• Delays of up to 25 minutes are expected during the overnight work window.

Western Suburbs and Central City Updates

The West Gate Tunnel is operational and providing an alternative river crossing; however, motorists should note that the Wurundjeri Way city bypass remains closed between Dudley Street and Bourke Street. This closure is part of ongoing stage 2 works focusing on road surfacing and drainage technology. Traffic is currently being diverted onto Footscray Road and Docklands Drive, adding approximately 20 minutes to travel times during peak periods.

On the rail network, while the Hurstbridge line has resumed normal services following weekend works, passengers on the Werribee and Frankston lines continue to operate under a temporary timetable. Commuters are advised to check the latest service updates before heading to the station to ensure they are across any minor schedule adjustments.