There are changes ahead for traffic at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets as works starts on a new entrance for the Town Hall Metro Tunnel station.
The shard structure that housed the Federation Square Visitor Centre will be demolished to make way for works to build the new entrance.
The good news is that there will continue to be bike lanes in Swanston Street outside Fed Square to Princes Bridge while the work proceeds.
However riders will need to keep their wits about them as there will be other impacts on local traffic movements and the bike lanes will be re-aligned.
Site establishment works, including fencing, are expected to get underway in the coming weeks.
Geotechnical investigations to assess ground conditions will also be undertaken and accessible ramps built around the site.
During this time there will be some temporary traffic changes to Flinders Street to enable vehicles to safely enter and exit the site.
This will involve occasional short-term closures of the southernmost left-turn lane on Flinders St (between Russell and Swanston streets), and traffic management will be in place during these times.
When works to demolish the Visitor Centre follow later this year, Flinders Street will be reduced by one traffic lane westbound between Russell and Swanston streets for up to four years.
The closure of the southernmost left-turn lane is necessary to allow the station entrance to be safely constructed. Federation Square sits over a working railway and the deck cannot withstand the weight of the massive machinery needed to build the station entrance.
There will still be one left-turning vehicle lane from Flinders Street into St Kilda Road, and one lane travelling ahead.
Bike riders will continue to have access to Swanston Street and St Kilda Road bike lanes.