Addressing Traffic and Transport Needs
As with every host city, delivering effective traffic and transport plans in Melbourne during the 2006 Commonwealth Games will be one of the biggest challenges. The information in this section will help people and businesses understand the arrangements required to deliver a successful Commonwealth Games.
The traffic and transport plans developed for Games time take into consideration a range of issues. These include:
- the safe transportation of athletes and officials
- spectator transport
- Games vehicles access
- venue deliveries
- access for spectator buses, charter coaches, sponsor coaches, taxis and hire cars
- motorbike and bicycle access
- pedestrian access
- access for people with disabilities
- expected crowd numbers
- competition schedules
- other Games activities such as the Festival Melbourne 2006 programs
All of these issues must be considered in the context of existing road users and the potential for impact on businesses and local communities. Traffic arrangements have been designed to facilitate efficient travel to and from each venue, and each venue has a specific set of circumstances to consider.
In preparing traffic and transport plans, the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination (OCGC) has worked closely with Melbourne 2006, the Department of Infrastructure, local councils, VicRoads, Victoria Police and other authorities.
While the Commonwealth Games will be Victoria’s biggest event and will deliver longterm benefits, it is recognised that as a host city, there will be disruption to normal traffic and transport conditions.
The Victorian Government has worked closely with key stakeholders to ensure that disruption is minimised and that Victoria hosts a successful Commonwealth Games.
Some of the initiatives are:
- there will be no parking at major Games venues
- public transport on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses (Metcard services only) will be free for Games ticket holders on the day of the event
- 30,000 additional public transport services will operate during the Games
- NightRider Bus services will operate every night of the Games
- Victorian School holidays will coincide with the Games
- information has been provided directly to local residents and businesses and will be available through local newspapers
- temporary signs and VMS signs will be installed to help communicate traffic arrangements
- diversion routes for key events have been developed
- the Victorian Government is working with the business community and key industry groups to inform key stakeholders of Games arrangements
- the Business Ready program encouraged businesses to plan for Games time arrangements and minimise travel
- an extensive advertising and media campaign will communicate key arrangements and encourage road and public transport users to plan for the Games and minimise travel, particularly during peak periods
- a central traffic coordination centre will be established during the Games to monitor traffic and transport
Traffic planning continues to be refined to ensure the best possible solutions are implemented, and while the information contained in this Guide is the most current at the time of publication, ongoing consultation with key authorities may result in further modifications to arrangements.
Assisting local communities
Many Commonwealth Games venues are in close proximity to residential and business areas. Every effort has been made to ensure that impacts on local communities are minimised.
Temporary alterations to local conditions, such as parking restrictions, road closures and venue access restrictions, will be implemented, with the most practical solutions in mind. In some instances, special resident parking schemes will be introduced to protect local areas and to minimise parking and traffic congestion in local streets.
All Games spectators are being encouraged to take public transport or walk to events. A Commonwealth Games ticket entitles the holder to free travel on public transport in the metropolitan area (Metcard services only) on the day of the event.
Road Events
There will be six Road Events held in and around the streets of Melbourne during the 2006 Commonwealth Games – the Triathlon, the 20km and the 50km Race Walks, the Cycling Road Race, the Cycling Time Trial and the Marathon. Familiarisation Session* information and Course details are included in this section.
*See Glossary of terms used in this Guide
A range of temporary alterations to local traffic and parking conditions will be implemented for each event, and will include parking restrictions and road closures. Temporary signs, clearly showing access and parking restrictions, will be installed and then removed as quickly as possible once events are completed and equipment has been dismantled. Pedestrian access to properties will be available at all times.
No vehicles will be allowed to park on the course during any Road Event or Familiarisation session.
Local streets are expected to accommodate vehicles that would otherwise be parked on the course. Fines will be imposed on vehicles in breach of parking and access restrictions and risk being towed away.
Park and Train
To assist Games spectators, ‘park and train’ options will be provided at three suburban stations. There will be free parking for 1500-plus vehicles available at Caulfield Racecourse (for Caulfield Station) and space for about 400 vehicles at both Victoria Park Station (railway siding) and West Footscray Station. Park the car and take a short train ride to your destination.
$10 V/Line Fares
V/Line is offering Games spectators a maximum $10 return fare to travel either on the day of the event they are attending or one day either side of the event. Bookings are essential.
Emergency access
Access for emergency services vehicles to all properties will be maintained at all times.
Informing local communities
To ensure that local communities are informed of the arrangements that will be in place, residents and businesses will be directly provided with specific information in the lead up to the Games. Information will also be available on the internet at www.business.vic.gov.au and in local newspapers.
Exclusive Games Lanes
Exclusive Games Lanes will operate from the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village to the Sport and Entertainment Precinct (servicing Rod Laver Arena, the Multi Purpose Venue, Olympic Park and the Melbourne Cricket Ground) and back, and from the Village to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and back.
There will be one lane in each direction restricted for use by authorised vehicles only. The lanes are located on the most suitable and direct routes between these major Games locations.
Exclusive Games Lanes are designed to ensure vehicles transporting athletes and Games officials arrive at their destinations on schedule.
With one lane removed from these routes, general road users will find these roads have a reduced carrying capacity. Drivers are advised to consider the alternative routes that are available.
In addition, authorised vehicles will have a 'priority' arrangement on the Tullamarine Freeway between Tullamarine Airport and the Village.
The following information is a general guide to how the Exclusive Games Lanes will operate .
Village to the Sport and Entertainment Precinct
The route is from Flemington Road travelling towards the city, right into Abbotsford Street, left into Queensberry Street, right into Rathdowne Street and into Exhibition Street. The route for the return trip will be the same.
Village to Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC)
The route is from Flemington Road travelling towards the city, right into Abbotsford Street, left into Queensberry Street, right into Swanston Street and into St Kilda Road. Along St Kilda Road, right into Lorne Street, left in Queens Road, sweep right into Lakeside Drive before turning right into Village Green Drive through to Aughtie Drive and end at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. From MSAC the return route will turn right into Albert Road through to St Kilda Road and then back to the Village via the inbound route.
Exclusive Games Lanes:
- will operate on a 24-hour basis from Sunday 12 to Sunday 26 March
- are exclusively for the use of authorised vehicles - all other vehicles, including bicycles, are not allowed to travel in the lanes
- can be accessed by emergency services vehicles at all times
- can be crossed by general road users, but only authorised vehicles can travel in the lanes
- will be identified by blue lines on the road; signs will also be installed to alert drivers
- will be enforced by Victoria Police; unauthorised use will incur a fine of $165
Detailed information will be provided directly to residents and businesses along the length of the routes.
View a map of this region in a new window - (60KB). This map is not to scale, it should be used as a companion document to the text and for location reference.
This online guide can also be downloaded as a PDF from the Traffic and Transport publications section of this website.
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