April 2026 Update: Elizabeth Street update: if you’ve already seen those dinky little red bollards and experienced the narrowed conditions for both riders and people parking their cars, our advice is to monitor, document, report and repeat. Read below for ongoing actions you can take.

March 2026: With no action to stop the works from the state government, residents and bike riders were on site as workers levered up the yellow traffic separators, leaving people on bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters with subpar protection from cars and exposing both pedestrians and people on bikes to close passes and near-dooring, in a risk to Yarra Council’s public liability.

With a looming national petrol crisis and crunch time for many household budgets, it is an indictment on the Victorian Government that neither Minister stepped up to stop demolition of Elizabeth Street protected lanes exactly when people need safe, economical transport options.

1. Ongoing action

      As you can read below, the communication from Yarra Council is extremely poor, there was no mention of detours for riders let alone these ‘works’ being a possible breach of breach of the Road Management Act and a fundamental disavowing of the Strategic Cycling Network.

        2. Elizabeth Street Road Safety Audit

        Elizabeth Street bike lanes were demolished on Monday 16th March 2026, creating a safety risk for people using the street. Despite numerous safety risks highlighted, the Department of Transport and Planning has approved these works.

        Here is what the independent road safety audit found:

        • Sightline obstructions: resulting in more crashes between motorists and cyclists, and motorists and parked cars.
        • Increase ‘dooring’ risk: narrowed bike lanes resulting in increased risk of car doors striking cyclists.
        • Reduced reaction and manoeuvre space: to react to unexpected obstacles or people stepping into the bike lane.
        • Impact to large vehicle manoeuvrability: e.g. rubbish collection and emergency vehicle as a result of car lane narrowing.

        3. Background

        4. City of Yarra. Notice of works. Elizabeth Street, Richmond Road Pavement Works

        ElizabethStreet_Richmond_NoticeofWorks_March2026

        Extracted text: Page 1: City of Yarra. Notice of works. Elizabeth Street, Richmond Road Pavement Works

        We will be carrying out works in your neighborhood soon and would like to share some important information. 

        What are we doing? 

        – Resurface the road pavement. 

        – Reconstruction of road humps. 

        – Relocating current the bike lane bollards.

        When will the work take place? The works are scheduled to commence on Monday 16 March 2026. Works are expected to take 4 to 5 weeks to complete, subject to weather conditions.

        Where are the works happening?

        The works are happening in Elizabeth Street, from Hoddle Street to Church Street, Richmond -as shown on the map below. 

        Page 2: Working hours 7am to 6pm during weekdays 9am to 3pm on Saturdays (if required) Resurfacing works 6pm to 5am (night works) During the overnight works, cars will not be able to park along Elizabeth Street but will be able to park there during the day. There may be some noise and dust during the works, but we will try to keep this to a minimum.

        Will I be able to access the street? 

        The preliminary works will commence on Monday 16 March 2026. Sections of the road under reconstruction will be closed to vehicles during pavement resurfacing night works (6:00 pm to 5:00 am) between 25 March 2026 and Tuesday 31 March 2026. 

        An appropriate traffic management plan will be in place with suitable detours. Pedestrian access along the street and vehicle access for local residents will be maintained with the assistance of traffic controllers onsite. 

        Full road access to traffic will resume after 5:00 am each day. Please consult with our contractor if you require assistance with access. 

        Where do I park my car? 

        Parking will not be permitted in the works zone in Elizabeth Street during resurfacing working hours from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am between 25 March 2026 and Tuesday 31 March 2026. If you require a temporary permit during the period of works, please follow the instructions below: 

        1. Visit the following site www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/all-online-requests 

        2. Under Parking’ Select ‘General Parking Permit Enquiry 

        3. Complete the form including your address and phone number 

        4. Please also include vehicle: registration number; make; and model. 

        5. Attach a copy of this notice. 

        Page 3: Please note that vehicles parked in the works zone during works hours will be towed. 

        Why is Council undertaking the re-sheeting of the road as part of these works? 

        On advice from officers, Council decided to conduct the re-sheeting of the road during these works to: 

        Minimise disruption to residents and businesses Improve the quality of the road 

        Complete the works on Elizabeth Street as soon as possible. 

        What did Council decide and when? 

        Council decided to maintain and extend the protected bike route on Elizabeth Street while also restoring 48 car spaces.

        This incorporated all the high and medium-risk recommendations including the sightline requirements from the Road Safety Audit. Council endorsed the baseline Concept Design plan for the Elizabeth Street Cycling Corridor at the Council Meeting on 10 February, 2026.

        Will you be removing car parks? These works will restore 48 car parks on Elizabeth Street, while ensuring protected bike lanes operate in both directions. 

        Page 4: What will happen to the bike lane?

        The existing bike lanes will remain in both directions, with bollards to protect bike riders from traffic The bike lanes will be reduced in width to allow for the return of 48 car parking spaces along Elizabeth Street. 

        Are you doing anything else as part of these works?

        Speed cushions will be installed for cyclists on Little Hoddle Street and Regent Street, and a contraflow bike lane on Jonas Street. Cyclists will also benefit from a bike-friendly grated drain cover which will be safer for cyclists to ride over.

        Contractor – Bosco Civil Claud Bosco – 0411 100 817 

        Contractor – RABS Group Clinton Shewan – 0402 668 262 

        Or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au