<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Victorian government has scrambled to fix an oversight that would make </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> home to the country's first pedestrian tollway when the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/metro-tunnel" rel="" target="" title="Metro Tunnel"><span>Metro Tunnel</span></a><span> opens this weekend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The more-than-$13 billion project, which included the construction of 9km twin tunnels under Melbourne's CBD and five new underground stations, is set to open this Sunday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But an underpass connecting two CBD stations was thrown into the spotlight today when it was revealed pedestrians using the walkway to access shops at Melbourne Central would need to pay more than $5.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-airport-two-women-charged-after-33-million-illegal-find-in-their-suitcases/a18a655f-f1e9-4d7c-b106-bbd42089043b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Two young women facing life in prison over $33 million find in their suitcases</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Situated just metres apart, the State Library and Melbourne Central stations share an underground concourse on La Trobe Street.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But pedestrians who want to avoid foot traffic or bad weather by using the underpass were told they would be charged a full fare when they tap on at the State Library and exit less than 50 metres away at Melbourne Central.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a ticketed train station area... I don't think it's that confusing," Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-government-scrambles-to-fix-blunder-that-would-create-first-pedestrian-tollway/825d2c45-4809-420f-9f5d-bb41467b8741" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Premier Jacinta Allan told media today that Myki's change-of-mind policy, which doesn't charge commuters who tap on and off at the same station within 15 minutes, would apply.</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="1993179448758485169?s=46&amp;t=cEzraAkIJjokwmcV4Qu_MQ" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But that message was at odds with a post on Metro Tunnel's social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Touching on your myki at State Library Station and touching off at Melbourne Central Station will be counted as a trip and your myki will be charged," Metro Tunnel said on X last night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-storms-severe-weather-damaging-winds-large-hail-sydney/527cdd97-b529-44e5-adac-97b7ab338aad" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Severe thunderstorms across NSW cause public transport delays</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state government backflipped on its stance late today, confirming it intends to leave a gate open at the stations to allow pedestrians to travel through the underpass for free.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As a result of building five brand new stations, two of which connect to existing stations, we want to make them fully accessible because we want Victorians to make the most of them," a government spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will have one gate open at both Town Hall and State Library stations to provide a free thoroughfare and Metro Trains staff will be out in force to help passengers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These underpasses will be open to everyone with no Myki required."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Town Hall Station is located on the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane, near Flinders Street Station.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/why-did-she-take-innocent-children-hakyung-lee-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-for-double-murders/de19fd0f-3465-4fc3-a32b-648778389d45" target="_blank"><strong><span>NZ mum handed life in prison for murdering her children</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Metro Tunnel has been in the pipeline for 10 years making Sunday's grand opening long-awaited.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it will be nearly another year before all the station entries are open.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Flinders Street Station entrance at Young and Jacksons will open early next year, while the entry at Federation Square is still another year off.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To celebrate the opening, the state government is offering free public transport on weekends from November 30 to February 1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From November 30, 240 extra train services will run through the tunnel as the service integrates into the network.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines will run exclusively through the new tunnels from February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em></em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><em><span> </span></em><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><em><span> </span></em><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><em><span> </span></em><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>