Government says the project will result in better Port of Melbourne connectivity and improve road safety
Design and geotechnical work on the $5.5 billion West Gate Distributor project has kick-started the much-awaited project that promises a new link for trucks to access the Bolte Bridge and a reduction in congestion on the West Gate Freeway.
Running in conjunction with the CityLink Tulla Widening project and Port of Melbourne capacity improvements, the aim of the project is to help minimise disruption to the community.
The project will support the new $1.6 billion international container terminal at Webb Dock and also reduce the risk of truck roll-overs.
Minister for roads Luke Donnellan says “gridlock on the M1 will be reduced and the project will prevent the weaving and merging of trucks trying to get on the Bolte Bridge.”
The first section of the project, which includes widening of the West Gate Freeway and the Monash Freeway upgrade, will provide a much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge.
Other key features of the project include:
- widening Cook Street from one to two lanes eastbound from Todd Road to the West Gate Freeway (in addition to the Port funded widening to two lanes westbound)
- creating a separate carriageway on the north side of the West Gate Freeway to provide direct access to the Bolte Bridge
- a new on-ramp to the Bolte Bridge from Cook St that will be flatter, longer, and straighter to reduce the risk of truck roll-overs that can cause the entire freeway to grind to a halt.
The project is expected to take at least 6,000 trucks off the West Gate Bridge and reduce travel time by up to 20 minutes.
Additionally, the project promises to create 5,600 new jobs.
“We’re not wasting a day getting on with the Western Distributor,” Donnellan says.
“It will mean less congestion, safer roads and more jobs for Victoria.”
Major construction will begin next year and the project is expected to finish in 2018.
Once the project is complete, authorities will extend the existing truck curfews on inner west streets, which Donnellan says will “improve road safety and links to the Port of Melbourne, so that businesses and our state’s economy can keep on growing”.
The Western Distributor project is being carried out by Leighton Contractors, working for Transurban, and VicRoads.