Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Melbourne (Citylink)

Melbourne (Citylink)

Citylink is a stretch of tollway that was designed to link up three of Melbourne's freeways (Monash, Westgate and Tullamarine) that originally ended just short of the CBD, creating traffic snarls at their respective terminus points. Once Citylink was complete, it enabled traffic to flow more freely across inner Melbourne and allowed an easier path for through traffic intending to bypass Melbourne altogether. The Citylink tolling system was the first of its kind in Australia as all motorists that used it either had to install an E-Tag instrument that attaches to the top part of the windscreen, or pay either before or after at a prescribed pay station (usually service stations) - as the whole length of road has electronic tolls which stops traffic building up at toll stations. Many other tolled roads in Australia now have this system installed or partly installed due to its success.

The 23km stretch of tolled road starts at the Bell Street interchange along the Tullamarine Fwy (SR43). It then heads south, following the Tullamarine Fwy, passes the interesting "Cheese Sticks" sculptures and through the unusual "Sound Tube", over the Bolte Bridge (Yarra River) and down to join with the Westgate Fwy (M1). Citylink then heads east, following the Westgate Freeway, passing to the south of the Melbourne CBD before reaching the Burnley and Domain Tunnels (Burnley tunnel for eastbound traffic, Domain tunnel for westbound traffic) which burrow under the Yarra River. Upon resurfacing, Citylink then follows the Monash Freeway (M1) south-east until reaching the Toorak Road interchange. Motorists continuing south-east on the Monash Freeway no longer pay any tolls.

State: Victoria
Start: Strathmore - Bell Street
Interchanges: Bell Street (Strathmore), Moreland Road (Brunswick West), Brunswick Road (Ascot Vale), Flemington/Racecourse Rd (North Melbourne), Dynon Road (West Melbourne), Footscray Road (Docklands), West Gate Freeway (Port Melbourne), Montague Street (South Melbourne), Power Street/Kings Way (Southbank), Punt Road (Cremorne), Barkly Avenue (Richmond), Toorak Road (Kooyong).
Finish: Kooyong - Toorak Road
Connecting Main Roads: Monash & Westgate Freeways , Tullamarine Freeway
Length: 23km
Road Standard: All bitumen.
Road Quality: Excellent. Three-Four laned carriageways for its entire length. Dual carriageway within the Burnley and Domain Tunnels.
Speed Limit: 100km/hr - 80km/hr inside the Burnley and Domain Tunnels. Western end of Monash Fwy - 80km/hr.

Photos from Melbourne (Citylink) - Click on thumbnail for full sized image:

Heading south on the Tullamarine Fwy with the assorted Cheese Sticks sculptures (2001).

Heading south through the Sound Tube on the Tullamarine Fwy (2001).

A typical Citylink electronic toll station. If the sensors above do not detect an E-Tag, then your registration plate is photographed. Photo is taken on Citylink, heading north after crossing the Bolte Bridge (2001).

On the Westgate Fwy, heading east with the variances in signs - blue for a tollway, green for freeway (2001).

Heading east along Citylink approaching the Burnley Tunnel (2001).

	Heading south on the Tullamarine Fwy with the assorted Cheese Sticks sculptures (2001).
	Heading south through the Sound Tube on the Tullamarine Fwy (2001).
	A typical Citylink electronic toll station. If the sensors above do not detect an E-Tag, then your registration plate is photographed. Photo is taken on Citylink, heading north after crossing the Bolte Bridge (2001).
	On the Westgate Fwy, heading east with the variances in signs - blue for a tollway, green for freeway (2001).
	Heading east along Citylink approaching the Burnley Tunnel (2001).