AN estimated crowd of 90,000 is expected on Phillip Island this weekend for the 2022 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Delays are likely heading to and from the Island on roads including the Monash Freeway, South Gippsland Highway and Bass Highway for the three-day event.
The following road closures will be in place on Phillip Island starting in stages on the afternoon of Thursday, October 13:
- Thompson Avenue, Cowes between Chapel Street and The Esplanade
- The Esplanade, Cowes between Bass Avenue and Warley Avenue
- Gap Road (south of Back Beach Road) will be closed to all traffic except Catch-A-Coach services from Friday, 14 to Sunday, 16 October
- Gap Road (north of Back Beach Road) will be closed to all traffic except accredited vehicles for the event and where local access is required from Friday, 14 to Sunday, 16 October.
All roads will be re-opened by the morning of Monday, 17 October.
On Thursday, 13 October hundreds of motorcyclists will take part in the 18th Barry Sheene Tribute Ride travelling from Bairnsdale to Phillip Island, with a stopover in Morwell.
Drivers travelling between Bairnsdale and Phillip Island at this time are encouraged to be alert for extra motorcyclists along the Princes Highway and South Gippsland Highway.
To ensure vehicles leave Phillip Island safely and efficiently after the Moto GP on Sunday, 16 October, the 'blue line' road marking system will be in place on the Melbourne-bound lane of Phillip Island Road.
The blue line adds an additional lane of traffic for vehicles exiting Phillip Island by utilising the emergency lane, effectively doubling the capacity of the road.
Drivers and riders have a shared responsibility in ensuring each other’s safety.
Motorcyclists are permitted to ride two-abreast, alongside one other rider, up to 1.5 metres apart.
Lane-splitting, the practice of motorcycle riders travelling at high speed between moving traffic, is not legal in Victoria.
Lane-filtering however, travelling at up to 30km/h through stopped or slow-moving traffic, has been permitted since 2015.
Travel options from Melbourne to Phillip Island include:
- Train services linking Southern Cross Station with Stony Point to catch the connecting ferry, and with Dandenong to catch a regional bus
- Coach services running from Southern Cross Coach Terminal, Thursday-Monday
- Ferry services between Stony Point and Cowes
- Regional bus services operating from Dandenong and Cape Paterson/Inverloch/Wonthaggi
Visitors can learn more and plan their journey on the event website at motogp.com.au/travel/getting-here
Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app. The latest public transport information and network status is available at ptv.vic.gov.au or in the PTV mobile app.
