Project Overview

The West Gate Tunnel Project, is a road tunnel project in Melbourne, Australia. The Victorian Government and Transurban are partnering on a USD 10.2 billion project to relieve congestion along the M1 corridor and provide an alternative to the West Gate Bridge.

Aimed at removing over 9,000 trucks daily from residential streets, improving travel times, and creating 6,000 jobs, the project also features over 14 km of new and upgraded cycling and walking paths, including a 2.5 km veloway.

West Gate Tunnel Length

The West Gate Tunnel project includes twin tunnels. The outbound tunnel is approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long, and the inbound tunnel is approximately 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) long. It is described as a 4-kilometer toll road, featuring tunnels, bridges, and an elevated highway, that connects Yarraville's West Gate Freeway with the Port of Melbourne and CityLink's Docklands.

Project Background

The West Gate Tunnel was initially known as the Western Distributor and is a major infrastructure project in Melbourne, Australia. Initiated by Transurban in 2014, the USD 10 billion project replaced an earlier USD 680 million freight route plan, the West Gate Distributor, a part of the Australian Labor Party’s platform during the 2014 state election as an alternative to the abandoned East West Link tollway. 

The Victorian Government made a commitment to the project in December 2015, and planning approval was granted in December 2017. Its construction is a joint venture between CPB Contractors and John Holland, which commenced in January 2018. 

It is built under a public-private partnership (PPP), utilizing a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, and is funded by tolls until 2045. 

West Gate Tunnel Project Completion Date

The West Gate Tunnel Project has entered its final stage of completion. Its expected completion date is by the end of 2025. The developers need to complete several pending works on the West Gate Freeway to finish the new outbound tunnel exit & asphalt the freeway & ramps. It also includes the demobilisation of the tower crane and the installation of the electronic traffic system.

For this purpose, the ramps and lanes are closed from July 13, 2025, to late August 2025. Thus, the workers will be able to safely complete the final cladding work on the ventilation system & install the remaining barriers, kerbs, and drainage.  

West Gate Tunnel Location

The West Gate Tunnel is located in Melbourne, Australia. It will connect the West Gate Freeway at Yarraville with the Port of Melbourne and CityLink at Docklands. It also includes the expansion of the West Gate Freeway from eight lanes to twelve lanes between the M80 Ring Road and Williamstown Road. These connections will result in reduced truck traffic on residential streets in Melbourne’s inner west. 

West Gate Tunnel Project Timeline

Project Scope

The project scope includes the following.

• Twin Tunnel: The project comprises two bored tunnels under Yarraville, with the westbound tunnel approximately 4 km long and the eastbound tunnel 2.8 km long, each with three lanes.

• West Gate Freeway Widening: The project involves widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 lanes to 12 lanes between the M80 Ring Road and the West Gate Bridge.

• Maribyrnong River Bridge: A new bridge will be built that crosses the Maribyrnong River. It will connect the tunnels to an elevated road along Footscray Road.

• Elevated Road & Connections: An elevated road along Footscray Road, linking to CityLink, Dynon Road, Wurundjeri Way, and direct port access via Hyde Street ramps.

• Cycling and pedestrian pathways: The tunnel comprises 14 km of new and upgraded paths, including a 2.5 km elevated veloway above Footscray Road

• Green spaces: It will create 9 hectares of new parks and wetlands to enhance urban biodiversity and community access.

• Ventilation Systems: Utilize tunnel ventilation stacks to manage air quality, with ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with EPA Victoria standards.

• Intelligent Transport Systems: Freeway management systems to optimize traffic flow and safety.

Environmental impact of the project

• Air Quality: The project is expected to reduce truck traffic on local roads by 2,500 to 3,500 daily, potentially improving air quality in residential areas.

• Noise & Vibration: The project includes upgraded noise walls to mitigate impacts on residential areas, parks, and sports fields.

• Biodiversity: The project area includes wetlands and river habitats. The potential impact of construction runoff on native flora and fauna was assessed in the EES.

West Gate Tunnel Project Cost

The total estimated cost for the construction of the West Gate Tunnel is USD 10.2 billion. It includes offerings from different stakeholders, including the Victorian Government and Transurban.

Initially, the project cost was USD 5.5 billion; however, due to delays primarily related to the disposal of PFAS-contaminated soil, the cost increased, further delaying the completion date to the end of 2025. 

West Gate Tunnel Route Map

West Gate Tunnel Route

The West Gate Tunnel, built under Yarraville, will link the extended West Gate Freeway to a bridge over the Maribyrong River & a new road above Footscray Road. 

The operators will invade the tunnel from the West Gate Freeway, travel under Yarraville & over the Maribyrong River, and then depart at Footscray Road in Docklands, Dynon Road in West Melbourne, or CityLink. 

Furthermore, the modern departure from the bridge over the Maribyrong River will divert trucks directly into the Port of Melbourne.

West Gate Tunnel Contractors

Benefits

• Alternative Route: The West Gate Tunnel project provides an alternative route to the West Gate Bridge.

• Saving Travel Time: The tunnel is expected to save travelers 20 minutes between Melbourne’s west & the city center.

• Increased Capacity: The expansion of the West Gate Freeway will result in an increased volume of vehicles on the road. It aims to accommodate up to 70,000 vehicles daily by 2031. 

• Direct Access: The project provides direct access to the Port of Melbourne via Hyde Street ramps

• Reduced Truck Traffic: Upon operation, the tunnel will divert 2,500 to 3,500 trucks daily from residential streets and 4,000 to 6,000 trucks from the West Gate Bridge, easing pressure on local infrastructure.

• Smooth Travel: The extension of the Wurundjeri Way by one lane in each direction between Dudley Street and Flinders Street facilitates smoother travel to and from the city.

Conclusion

The West Gate Tunnel Project is a transformative infrastructure project that provides an alternative route to the West Gate Bridge. Upon its operation, the tunnel will reduce heavy traffic on the West Gate Bridge by diverting heavily loaded trucks & improving traffic flow. The tunnel is also beneficial in reducing travel time and enhancing commuter safety. 

By providing direct access to the Melbourne port, it diverts trucks away from the residential streets in the inner west, improving local amenity & air quality. 

In addition to its transportation benefits, the project has contributed to job creation, skill development, and long-term economic growth in the area. Victoria's West Gate Tunnel plays a vital role in supporting the city's growth, sustainability, and connectivity well into the future as part of its broader infrastructure pipeline.

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