Smooth Arterials but Sunday Timetables This Good Friday

Public Transport: Free Travel and Sunday Schedules

As Melbourne observes the Good Friday public holiday on April 3, 2026, commuters are reminded that all public transport across Victoria is currently free. This state-wide initiative, which began on March 31 and continues through April 30, was introduced to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and conserve fuel reserves during the ongoing regional energy crisis. Passengers do not need to touch on or off with their Myki cards on any metropolitan trains, trams, or buses.

While travel is free, services will operate on a Sunday timetable today. This means less frequent services than a typical Friday, so commuters should plan their journeys in advance using the PTV app. Night Network services will continue to run as normal for those traveling late into the evening. For those heading out of the city, V/Line trains are also running to a Sunday schedule, while some regional coach services may have altered departure times to accommodate the holiday demand.

Major Roadways: Maintenance Paused for the Holiday

In a welcome reprieve for drivers, most major freeway maintenance and construction projects have been paused for the public holiday period. The extensive resurfacing works on CityLink—specifically the outbound sections between the Burnley Tunnel and Toorak Road—will not take place tonight. Similarly, the 'Mega Lift' operations associated with the North East Link project have been scheduled to avoid the Good Friday holiday, ensuring that the Eastern Freeway remains open in both directions throughout the day.

With the West Gate Tunnel now fully operational since late 2025, motorists traveling between the western suburbs and the CBD are encouraged to utilize the new twin tunnels to avoid any potential congestion on the West Gate Bridge. Traffic volumes are expected to be significantly lower than a standard workday, though localized congestion may occur near major precincts hosting Good Friday Appeal events.

Local Disruptions and Ongoing Works

Despite the general pause in major works, some essential long-term projects continue to impact local traffic:

• Heath Hill: Westernport Road continues to have lane closures between Phillips Road and Mount Lyall Road for essential rehabilitation works.
• Bulleen: While the freeway is clear, some local lane closures persist on Bulleen Road between Bridge and Avon streets for drainage works.
• CBD: Pedestrian traffic is expected to be high around the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for the annual Good Friday Appeal.

Looking Ahead: Major Sunday Closures

Commuters should be aware of significant disruptions scheduled for this coming Sunday, April 6. The annual Run for the Kids event will necessitate major closures on CityLink and the West Gate Freeway. Key impacts will include the closure of the Bolte Bridge (southbound) from early morning until 1:00 PM and the Domain Tunnel from Saturday night through Sunday afternoon. If you are planning travel for the remainder of the Easter weekend, keep these massive Sunday diversions in mind.