Melbourne’s long-awaited Westgate Tunnel opened yesterday, nearly eight years after construction first began.
The opening of the tunnel provides an alternative link from the CBD to the city’s west and is expected to remove thousands of trucks from city streets and the congested Westgate Bridge.
For commuters, modelling suggests potential time savings of up to 20 minutes for those approaching the city from Geelong and the west.
For transport operators, the opening of the new tunnel presents a direct option to the Port, although that will come with toll costs.
The tunnels deliver direct in-and-out access to the Port of Melbourne via Mackenzie Road, Appleton Dock Road and Hyde Street, allowing trucks to bypass up to 17 sets of traffic lights.
The opening of the tunnels also presents a new set of rules for trucks around the tunnel area with 24/7 No Truck Zones coming into place today, along with curfews along Williamstown Road.
24/7 no-truck zones are in place on:
- Francis Street in Yarraville
- Somerville Road in Yarraville
- Buckley Street in Footscray
- Moore Street in Footscray
- Hudsons Road in Spotswood
- Blackshaws Road in Altona North.
A night-time and weekend no-truck zone is in place on Williamstown Road (8pm – 6am weekdays and at all times on weekends).
On the stats side of things, more than 6,000 workers helped deliver project, including 62 million hours on site and 1.8 million hours by trainees, apprentices and cadets.
The project was originally scheduled to open in 2022 but was delayed, with the need to remove contaminated soil from the site being a major factor in the delay, and also in the cost to deliver the project, which was originally estimated to be $5.5 billion and wound up at an estimated $10.2 billion.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says the tunnel opening is good news for Victorian commuters.
“The West Gate Tunnel gives people real choice – the bridge or the tunnel – saving families time and reshaping travel across the west,” Allan says.
To find out more or plan your use of the tunnel visit westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/drive.