St Kilda Junction lighting upgrade

St Kilda Junction is one of the most complex convergences of roads in the City. It serves as a gateway to Fitzroy Street, St Kilda Beach and the foreshore, and remains a key intersection for vehicular, bicycle, walking and public transport movements. The Junction provides a critical pedestrian link across one of the municipalities busiest intersections and consists of multiple lanes of traffic, tram tracks and bus routes.

The St Kilda Junction underpass allows for pedestrians to safely cross the St Kilda junction. The quality of lighting within the underpass is currently in poor condition, is easily damaged and requires regular maintenance to maintain the working order of the lights.

In April 2019, Council undertook an Accessibility and Personal Safety Audit Report on St Kilda Junction which identified a broad range of improvements including carparking, pathways, kerb ramps, lighting, landscaping, pedestrian crossings, street furniture, signage, stairs and ramps, Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs) and a range of other miscellaneous opportunities for improvement to address physical aspects of the Junction. The following identified areas have already been improved; pathways, kerb ramps, pedestrian crossings, signage and TGSI’s and graffiti removal

This stage of the project seeks to improve the lighting quality of the two underpass pedestrian tunnels using new robust anti-vandal fixtures. Additionally in 2023 new lights will be installed at the three entrances to the road underpass, which will brighten and create a safer pedestrian environment during night time hours for tram users and pedestrians entering from the directions of Albert Park Lake and the Wellington/Nelson Street entry ramps.

Impact to the community will be minimal at this stage. While pedestrian access will be maintained, areas of some walkways will be sectioned off while works are underway. 

The major benefit of this project is to improve the safety and functionality of the underpass particularly during evening hours. The benefits of the lighting project not only includes public safety but improved energy efficiency with the old fluorescent lights being replaced with energy efficient LED technology. The robust anti-vandal design of the fixtures is also envisaged to reduce the amount of ongoing maintenance costs and along with the Graffiti Murals completed in November 2021 will contribute to our City maintaining its reputation as one of Melbourne’s cultural and creative hubs.