Delays on the project have been caused by unexpected underground conditions. Working in the Melbourne CBD can be challenging, with underground assets and utilities from over 150 years of construction and changing technology.

We have been working to better plan for these complexities, to help reduce delays for the remainder of the works.

We know that Melbourne’s CBD is a complex construction environment, and we are working closely with key stakeholders and other authorities to minimise impacts as much as possible.

Find more information about other projects near the Elizabeth Street sewer upgrade:

• Greater Western Water’s Swanston Street water main renewal.
• Metro Tunnel is currently building the State Library Station.
• Yarra Trams is carrying out tram track renewal and replacement work around the CBD. Find out more about these projects.
• The City of Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market precinct renewal project.

You can also find more information about any disruptions to public transport in the Melbourne CBD on the PTV website.

As of mid-August 2024, all project works along Elizabeth Street were fully completed.

All site compounds on Elizabeth Street have been removed. The northbound lanes on Elizbeth Street, between Lonsdale Street and Therry Street, have been reopened to traffic.

What works are remaining?

Works at Victoria Street and Leicester Street have been temporarily postponed. Construction to complete the sewer upgrade will restart at these sites in late September 2024 and is expected to take about 4 weeks to complete.

We’ll share more details about the remaining work closer to the start date.

We will be returning to our worksites on Elizabeth Street to complete final connection works. This includes our sites at:

• La Trobe Street
• A'Beckett Street
• Franklin Street
• Therry Street

This work will start in late June 2024, and all sites are expected to be complete by early August 2024.

Night works on Victoria Street

We'll also be completing night works on Victoria Street near Leicester Street from early July 2024, expected to be complete by early August 2024.

This work will be complete at night between 9pm and 5am, with normal traffic conditions operating during the day.

For more information see works notification dated 24 June 2024.

Construction started in February 2023 and was expected to be completed by March 2024. During our works, we encountered unexpected ground conditions which proved to be more difficult than previously anticipated.

Construction is now expected to be complete in July 2024.

What are we doing and when?

• Early April: A shaft will be installed on Elizabeth Street within the La Trobe Street intersection. More information about this work is below.
• Mid-May to mid-June: Tunnelling will be undertaken along Elizabeth Street between Latrobe Street and Little Lonsdale Street.
• Late June: The work sites on Elizabeth Street near A’Beckett Street, Franklin Street and Therry Street will be reestablished and construction will restart in stages.
• Early July: Construction on Victoria Street near the Elizabeth Street intersection at night.
• Late July: Construction at all remaining work sites is expected to be complete. Elizabeth Street, Victoria Street and Leicester Street will be completely reopened.

We will provide further updates before construction restarts at each work site. For more details on timelines at each site, see our project map.

Works on Elizabeth Street at La Trobe Street

We will be installing a shaft within the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Latrobe Street in early April 2024. This work is expected to be complete in early July 2024.

Works at this site will only take place at night between 12am and 5am Sunday to Thursday.

Works will take place between 12am and 5am Sunday to Thursday. During this time, westbound vehicles on La Trobe Street will be unable to proceed straight through the intersection, and will be required to detour south onto Elizabeth Street.

At all other times, temporary fencing and barriers will be removed and the shaft will be covered by a steel road plate to ensure La Trobe Street is safe for use.

More information

Find more details in our works notification dated 25 March 2024.

All work sites along Elizabeth Street have been temporarily shut down over the holiday period to allow the road to reopen. Steel road plates have been installed over the shafts to ensure the road is safe for use.

Elizabeth Street at La Trobe Street

Starting from Thursday 11 January 2024, we will reestablish part of our work site on Elizabeth Street north of La Trobe Street. Works at this location are expected to be complete at the end of March 2024.

From Tuesday 23 January 2024, night works will take place between 9pm and 5am Monday to Thursday in conjunction with the daytime works at tis site. These night works are expected to be complete by early February 2024

Intersection of Elizabeth and La Trobe streets

We will also be carrying out night works from Monday 15 January for around one week at the intersection of Elizabeth and La Trobe streets.

This will include some road sawing, which will produce moderate amounts of noise. This is expected to be complete in the first night of these works.

For more information see works notification dated 21 December 2023.

The micro tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will construct the new sewer will be delivered to the work site on Elizabeth Street near the corner of Lonsdale Street on Wednesday 14 June.

What to expect during tunnelling

• Tunnelling will be completed in sections, starting at Lonsdale Street and progressing north to Victoria Street between shafts at each work site
• Each section will take about 2 weeks to complete
• The TBM will generate only minimal noise and vibration, which are not expected to be noticeable at ground level
• There will be low to medium levels of noise from support equipment at each shaft
• Once tunnelling is complete, temporary concrete structures inside the shafts will be removed. This will involve periods of medium to loud noise for around 2 days per site. This work will only occur during the day

Tunnel connecting Lonsdale Street to Elizabeth Street

The section of the sewer between the Lonsdale Street work site and Elizabeth Street near the corner of Lonsdale Street will be constructed using hand-held equipment. This work will take place during the day from late June and is expected to take about a month to complete.

Speak to the project team

In June, we will hold an online community meeting to give an update on the project and answer your questions. This meeting is open to all members of the Elizabeth Street community.

Date: Tuesday 20 June 2023

Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Location: online via Microsoft Teams

How to RSVP: please email your name and connection to Elizabeth Street to ElizabethStreet@smec.com by COB Friday 16 June 2023 and the project team will email you the link to join the session. You are welcome to email your questions in advance, or to ask them during the meeting.

See information pack shared at this meeting.

More information

Find out more by reading the project notification dated 6 June 2023.

Start of works: February 2023

Works will begin on Elizabeth Street, between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale streets, on Monday 20 February.

The first stages of works will include site establishment and excavation of temporary shafts, including some night works.

See works notification dated 8 February 2023 for more information.