Exhibition Street Extension Tram line construction
Chris Brownbill (cbrnbill@enternet.com.au)
30 Apr 1998 11:03:12 GMT
I notice that construction has commenced on the construction of the road
bridge to carry Exhibition street over the Jolimont rail yards in
Melbourne. This bridge will carry the diverted Route 70 tram route, and
there appears to be preparatory work for this tram route underway. The
rail siding on the Up side of the Up end of platform 1 at Richmond station
is being removed, - I presume to make room for the tram track to swing out
of Swan Street and run parallel to and South of the railway track up to the
Tennis Centre. I notice also that temporary fencing is being erected here
- provided by the same company who has provided temporary fencing at the
site of the abutment of the bridge at the Exhibition/Flinders street
corner.
A question - does anyone know what the routing of the No 70 tram will be
once this track is complete? The options would seem to be to run west down
Flinders Street then turn right into Spencer Street and terminate at la
Trobe or Lonsdale Streets as the 75 and 48 do today, OR maybe with the
construction of a new curve at Market Street they could turn South over
Queens Bridge and run past the Casino!
Maybe though the answer lies in the announcement in last weeks State Budget
that funding was allocated for the rebuilding of Elizabeth Street tram
terminus. Could this mean that a connection will be built between
Elizabeth and Flinders Streets allowing the route 70s to turn into
Elizabeth Street and maybe through-route with say route 50 North Melbourne
trams?
Any more educated opinions?