Designs for the Franklin Street transformation have been approved by the City of Melbourne and are expected to make the city's streetscape the “envy” of those outside the borough.
In the final concept design, which was unanimously approved at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on 3 September, the council outlined how the Franklin streetscape would be designed to better connect State Library Underground Station and Queen Victoria Market. clarified that it plans to improve the situation.
The new high-quality urban corridor, which Mayor Nick Rees said will be “world class”, will include improved footpaths, new cycle lanes, street greening and plenty of gathering space.
The project is co-funded as part of the Westgate Tunnel Project's Transport and Amenity Program (TAP). The project is a $100 million fund aimed at reducing the impact of new road projects in North Melbourne, West Melbourne and the Docklands.
Although the Franklin Street project in the CBD falls short of the purpose for which many believed TAP was established, the Department of Transport and Planning and the City Council have each contributed more than $15 million to the project.
Cr Reece said this was a major investment for the city and the $30 million project was essential to create the streetscape needed to accommodate the city's growing population.
The mayor said that when the Metro Tunnel project is completed in 2025, the city center's population will increase by an additional 150,000 people.
Cr Rohan Leppert, head of the city's future planning portfolio, believes the Franklin Street project is an “exciting opportunity”.
Cr Leppert said the renovation of Franklin Street, along with the opening of the State Library subway station, would consolidate northern east-to-west routes into the city.
“It will provide Victoria's most densely populated area and its residents with an extremely high level of amenity now and into the future, and will be the envy of those outside the precinct,” he said.
Philippe Le Rue, speaking at the September 3 meeting, expressed concerns about the public facilities within the road and the possibility that future construction would repeatedly disrupt or damage the road once it is complete.
But Rick Kwasik, the city's general manager of infrastructure and amenities, said, “As part of the design process, we consider what kind of utilities are on the roadway and what kind of construction might be done. “There is,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that any necessary upgrades are made ahead of any remedial works carried out by the City of Melbourne.” •
