Pedestrian and vehicle access will be maintained for local businesses and residents. The footpath will remain open past Degraves Street but the full path between Elizabeth and Swanston streets will not re-open until late 2020. Sutton Zhang, who owns Metro Burger on Degraves Street, told reporters on Sunday he would consider closing his business. "It's terrible for us, you know," he said. When asked how much longer it might take drivers to travel through the city due to the closure, Department of Transport deputy secretary Jeroen Weimar said it would be just minutes.

"Once we settle everything down we’ll look at an additional up to five minutes for people travelling through this local area and the adjoining streets.’’ he said. He said the majority of road users currently using Flinders Street eastbound are local traffic. We’ve done a lot of modelling over the last few months to ensure that we can manage additional dispersion of that traffic to other adjoining streets," Mr Weimar said. ‘‘We will be introducing some additional CCTV cameras to manage the traffic better in real time, using our traffic management control centre, and we will continue to adjust that as we see changes in people’s traffic patterns over the coming weeks and months.’’ RACV senior transport manager Peter Kartsidimas said that with almost two months' warning, commuters who regularly use this route should consider alternatives and investigate switching to trains, buses or bikes.

"Simple maps and videos posted on the project website, in social media or through mainstream media would help prepare commuters for these disruptions, as well as clear direction signs at key intersections to ensure everyone is prepared." Rail Projects Victoria CEO Evan Tattersall told the press conference that digging would go down 30 metres under Flinders street and involve installation of mechanical and electrical infrastructure. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Workers would construct a pedestrian underpass - from Flinders Street Station to Campbell Arcade under Flinders Street - ‘‘from the top down and [will] cover it again with a lid".

Ms Allan said that vehicle access would be maintained for nearby businesses and residences. ‘‘On top of all of that, the road network is going to be very carefully monitored to manage the traffic flow and to make any adjustments to the sequencing of traffic lights, for example, over this period of time." Asked whether the government would compensate small businesses affected, she said the government had policy guidelines and worked ‘‘on an individual basis’’ with different small businesses. "Some are retail, some are hospitality, others are providing professional services and they have different needs and so we’ve been, through Rail Projects Victoria, working with them on a case-by-case basis, providing different levels of support where appropriate.’’

Ms Allan was asked by reporters that, given that McDonald’s is already taking court action over having to close their Swanston Street store due to the building of Metro Tunnel, did she anticipate further businesses seeking compensation? ‘‘That’s a hypothetical, that’s very difficult to manage," Ms Allan said. "Local, individual businesses will make their own choices. "Through Rail Projects Victoria, we’ve been working very, very closely on a case-by-case basis with all the businesses in this local area, and we’ve really appreciated their co operation and support." She said there had been ‘‘extensive consultations’’ with stakeholders such as the City of Melbourne, and discussions with local residents and businesses ‘‘because we are mindful of the impact of these works on this local area".

‘‘It’s a disruption. We are in a big construction phase of the project, because it is a big project that’s going to make the biggest difference to our public transport network.’’ "This is a significant closure but we need to do it - it's the only way to build this vital underground connection between Flinders Street and the Metro Tunnel station," Ms Allan said. "We know how disruptive this major construction will be, so we're doing everything we can to minimise disruptions and impacts on local residents, businesses and people visiting the city." Metro Tunnel works have already caused disruptions on Flinders Street, with one of three westbound lanes shut to traffic at the end of last year. Loading