To make it easier for all, I propose that all superstop construction related news, events etc be placed in this new thread for easier collation for all.

I shall start it off with the news of the Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street stops (serving the 35,48,70 and 75) being rebuilt from the 22 May 2007.

Construction Details

Construction of the platform tram stops is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 22 May 2007 and will take approximately one month. Tram services will continue to operate during construction and passengers will be directed to use temporary tram stops. The road and footpaths will remain open. On the first day of construction some lane closures will be in place. All works will be carried out in a way to minimise disruption to road and tram users.

Platform Tram Stop Benefits

The platform tram stops will replace the existing tram stops at the intersection of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street. Similar platform tram stops in Flinders Street and Collins Street have proven highlight effective and provide passengers with easier and safer access to trams.

[Snip]  

This appeared today (10th May) edition of City Weekly and a small diagram appears below.

It shows the new positioning of the tram stops as to where the DOWN stop is however there is no appearance of the temporary DOWN stop. I would hazard a guess that it would be opposite the current UP stop.

Work continues on Burwood Highway stops - are there any works underway on Plenty RD or elsewhere on the network?

Dear All

From the Yarra Trams website:
[quote="Yarra Trams"]
Accessible Tram Stops

The Accessible Tram Stop Program is a government-funded, capital works program which aims to construct as many accessible tram stop platforms as possible over the next few years, at locations right across the Melbourne tram network.

The Program will deliver infrastructure-based solutions that will address the key accessibility issues of:

• boarding;
  
• tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs);
  
• waiting areas, and;
  
• hearing augmentation.

As part of the Accessible Tram Stop program platform stops will be constructed on a number of tram routes, to improve access for all members of the community.

Benefits of the new platform stops include:

• Ramp access to assist elderly, people with disabilities, users of mobility aides and parents with prams
  
• More efficient and safer boarding and alighting for passengers
  
• Compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Completed and upcoming platform stop construction:

Plenty Road, Bundoora
Six pairs of platform stops were constructed on Plenty Road, Bundoora from Friday 9 February to Sunday 11 February 2007.
For further information, download the Plenty Road brochure.    

Burwood Highway, Burwood
Five pairs of platform stops were constructed on Burwood Highway, Burwood from Friday 23 February to Monday 26 February 2007.
For further information, download the Burwood Highway brochure.  

Burwood Highway, Burwood - Tram stops 59, 61, 62, 63 on Route 75
Four pairs of platform tram stops will be constructed in Burwood Highway, Burwood from 8pm on Friday 4 May to 4am on Monday 7 May 2007.
For further information, please download our brochure.

Casino West on Spencer Street Bridge
The construction of a pair of platform tram stops at Casino West is schedule to begin in May 2007.  No tram services will be affected.

Dandenong Road, Armadale
Tram stop 40 in Dandenong Road, at Wattletree Road in Armadale (Melway Map 58 K9) is scheduled to be upgraded to a platform tram stop in June 2007.

Plenty Road, Bundoora
Trams stops 56, 57, 58, 59, 66, 67, 68 and 69 are scheduled to be upgraded to platform tram stops in June 2007.

Dandenong Road, St Kilda
Construction of a pair of platform tram stops is scheduled to begin on Dandenong Road at Chapel Street in June 2007.

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Construction on a pair of platform tram stops on Fitzroy Street at Park Street in St Kilda is scheduled to begin in June 2007.[/quote]

And from the Think Tram section on the Vicroads website:
[quote="Vicroads"]
Bourke Street, Melbourne
Following 18 months of extensive community consultation and project development, the City of Melbourne has approved platform tram stops in Bourke Street at Spring Street, Russell Street, Queen Street, William Street and Spencer Street.  Construction will commence in May 2007 on the platform tram stops at Spring Street and Spencer Street.  The remaining three stops are expeccted to be completed by September 2007.

The tram improvement works will offer the following benefits:

• Safer and easier access to tram services for the elderly, people with disabilities and passengers with prams
  
• Raised platforms with ramp access compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
  
• Shelters, seating and improved lighting
  
• Real-time tram arrival displays

Construction
Construction of the Spring Street and Spencer Street platform tram stops is scheduled to commence on Tuesday 15 May 2007 and will take approximately four weeks.  Over the first few nights, there will be road closures and some noise generated at times by construction machinery.  The noise is unavoidable and construction will be carried out in a way to minimise disruption to nearby properties.  Tram services will continue to operate during construction and passengers will be directed to temporary tram stops. All footpaths will remain open.

Parking
For a period of time, while new platform tram stops are being constructed and until the existing trams stops are removed there will be a reduced number of parking spaces in Bourke Street.  However, the City of Melbourne will rearrange parking along the entire length of Bourke Street at the completion of the project.  It is expected that there will be no overall reduction in on-street parking.

A brochure including a map of the new platform tram stops at Spencer Street and Spring Street is available here

Flinders Street at Elizabeth Street
Tram stop platforms will be built in Flinders Street at Elizabeth Street to replace the existing tram stop safety zones. Construction is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 22 May 2007 and will take approximately one month to complete. During construction some lane closures will be in place and there will be some noise generated by machinery. Tram services will continue to operate during construction and passengers will be directed to use temporary tram stops. The road and footpaths will remain open.

A brochure including a map of the new platform tram stops is online here

Toorak Road Tram Terminus, Toorak
Yarra Trams has been working closely with VicRoads and the City of Stonnington on a proposal to upgrade the Toorak Road tram terminus near Glenferrie Road. The proposal involves widening the road to allow for remodelling of the tram terminus and installation of a central platform tram stop.  The proposal is designed to provide a safer and less confusing environment for passengers, pedestrians and drivers.

A Community Display Evening was held in December 2006 at Malvern Town Hall.  Community feedback is being considered in the development of the final design, with construction expected to start in early 2008.

A brochure including a map of this project is online here[/quote]

Kind Regards


Craig

It shows the new positioning of the tram stops as to where the DOWN stop is

That's an excellent idea; it means travellers in both directions will have a stop that will deposit them right in front of Flinders Street Station. Passengers changing from up trams to Flinders St trains at the moment have a quite tedious walk-and-wait-and-cross to do to get there.

Had a look yesterday at the platforms at Somers Street and Deakin.
They're not completed yet, so still need to be fully fitted out.

I don't think the platforms are any where near long enough.

Somers Street in particular seems a squeeze for the B2 vehichles.
When I got off the tram last night, the rear door was only just accessible - the fence was about 5cm away from blocking part of the exit.
Of course, the driver may not have run as far west as possible, but surely there would be reserve space.

It sure is safer now though - sometimes trams would stop with the back end hanging out on to the intersection!

The stops are shorter than those constructed on the Blackburn Rd - Vermont Sth section.

A B2 is 23.63 m long... D2 29m - surely they would have made room to accomadate that.

I'm going to have a closer look tomorrow morning.

Dear All

[quote="Yarra Trams"] Casino West on Spencer Street Bridge

The construction of the two new platforms (one in each direction) at the Crown Entertainment Complex and Exhibition Centre in Spencer Street will commence on Tuesday 22 May 2007 and will continue for approximately four weeks.

On the evening of Wednesday 23 May (weather permitting) some noise will be generated by construction machinery. It is necessary to undertake these works overnight as the machinery used will be operating below the overhead tram power lines when there are no tram services and the power can be shut down.

Between Thursday 24 May and Tuesday 12 June, minor works such as installation of fencing, tiles and shelters will be carried out during the night. Noise will be kept to a minimum.

Throughout the construction period, occasional lane closures will be required in Spencer Street adjacent to the works. Motorists will be advised of traffic lane closures and speed limit reduction via road work signage.

Tram services in Spencer Street will continue to operate as normal during the works.
The tram stops at Crown Entertainment Complex and Exhibition Centre (stop number 124A) will be closed. Passengers will be required to use tram stops in front of the Melbourne Convention Centre (stop number 124) or the tram stops at Whiteman Street/Normanby Road (stop number 125).[/quote]

Kind Regards


Craig