30 December 2023
Final pieces come together on elevated motorway
After a mammoth construction effort and more than ;1,400 concrete segments lifted into place, the 1,400t launching gantry crane has completed its work on the elevated motorway over Footscray Road.
The 40-metre-high and 116-metre-long gantry crane, that has been a feature of the skyline since September 2021, has been lifting 100-tonne pieces of concrete road deck into the air and stitching them together above Footscray Road.The new elevated motorway, which links the twin tunnels to the city and port, will reduce travel times and help remove 9,000 trucks a day off local roads in the inner west.
The final span was lifted into place during September this year.
Now that construction of the elevated motorway is complete, the launching gantry will be progressively dismantled on site
Major construction works this summer
As part of the West Gate Tunnel Project, from January to March 2024, we will be completing work on Wurundjeri Way and along the West Gate Freeway, Princes Freeway and the M80 interchange. You can stay up to date via our weekly traffic email alert, at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions and by following traffic signage.
For updates or questions pleasecall 1800 105 105, email us at info@wgta.vic.gov.au, or visit westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au
We appreciate our work can be disruptive and we thank you for your understanding.
West Gate Freeway summer works start in January
From mid-January until early March 2024, West Gate Tunnel Project crews will carry
out the final surfacing of the West Gate Freeway between Millers Road and the M80 Ring Road, and on the ramps between Kororoit Creek and Millers roads.
This allows the project to move towards the final stages of rebuilding the West Gate Freeway from the ground up to make it smoother and stronger and add two new lanes ineach direction.
Along with the final resurfacing works on the West Gate Freeway, other key works include:
- Removal of temporary asphalt
- Installing final freeway barriers and signs
- Line marking
- Bridge strengthening works, and
- Freeway system works.
We’re completing these works over the summer holiday period while the roads are quieter, helping minimise impacts, with crews working around the clock to finish the job as soon as possible.
While we carry out this work, there’ll be significant delays, so please plan ahead and if you’re using the West Gate Freeway during this time, allow extra time and check the latest travel advice on the Big Build website – www.bigbuild.vic.gov.au
Thank you for your patience during this time
New city bypass taking shape
A new bridge extending Wurundjeri Way over Dudley Street in Docklands is taking shape with massive steel beams now in place.
Eleven steel beams for two new bridges, have now been installed and the road deck and new pavement and kerbs.
Massive steel beams were joinedtogether in the air using two cranes, with 1,708 bolts used to connectthe beams, the biggest being 69m in length and weighing 181.4 t.
The new bridge will extend Wurundjeri Way over Dudley Street creating a city bypass so cars don’t have to rely on Spencer and King streets.
There will further work to continue building the city bypass this summer.
Tunnel road deck construction complete
The construction of twin tunnels from Footscray to the West Gate Freeway reached a significant milestone in November with the final concrete road deck segment installed.
The 2,548th and final road deck segment was installed in the westbound tunnel, completing 10 months of work on this part of the tunnels.
With tunnel fit out, including the installation of electrical and safety systems continuing below ground, above ground construction of the ventilation systems is well underway at the westbound portal and portal at Maribyrnong River.
Construction of the portal timber net feature will commence in the new year.
Footscray Road Open Day
During September, 400 members of the public were provided a ‘behind the scenes’ look at some of the project’s key construction sites.
Attendees boarded a bus at the project Info Centre and were given a guided tour to see the new Maribyrnong River bridges before stopping off at the old flower market on Footscray Road to check out Melbourne’s massive new CityLink and CBD connections.
Keep an eye out on our website for future events.
Visit us at Lunar New Year Festival
You can catch the community team at the Lunar New Year Festival in Footscray on Sunday, 14 January 2024.
The annual event is held by the Footscray Asian Business Association (FABA).Our Mobile Info Hub will again be at the event, so come along and celebrate the year of the dragon, watch some traditional performances, eat some authentic food, and chat to our team about the project.