14 April 2023
Tunnel Boring Machines power ahead
Excavation of one of the West Gate Tunnels is complete, with Tunnel Boring Machine Vida breaking through at the citybound entrance in February, completing a 2.8 kilometre journey.
TBM Vida broke through in Yarraville, making its way from the west side of the Maribyrnong River under Yarraville to Williamstown Road near the West Gate Freeway, after close to 7,000 combined hours of tunnelling.
The breakthrough marks a significant milestone for the project, with TBM Bella also scheduled to complete her four kilometre journey from just west of the Maribyrnong River to just east of Millers Road, in the coming months.
Tunnelling is more than 90 per cent complete.
Major construction works across the West Gate Tunnel Project
We’re undertaking a series of complex works across the West Gate Tunnel Project, affecting how you move to and from the city.
Here’s a look ahead at some of the disruptions over the next few months:
- Footscray Road – closures in one direction at a time until June
- Wurundjeri Way – closed at night in April, and one lane closed in each direction until October
- Williamstown Road – overnight road and freeway ramp closures
- West Gate Freeway – overnight closures
- Millers Road – overnight road and freeway ramp closure.
Plan ahead and allow extra time to complete your journey
With lots of construction happening across the network, make sure you check for any disruptions before heading off.
If you can, avoid travelling in peak periods, take an alternative route to avoid works, or consider taking public transport where possible.
While you’re on the road: listen to traffic reports and look out for digital road signs that give you real-time advice on travel times and alternative routes.
For regular traffic updates register at info@wgta.vic.gov.au or via our website westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au
West Gate Tunnel Project crosses the Maribyrnong River
A new bridge and ramps across the Maribyrnong River will connect the new West Gate Tunnels and the elevated motorway above Footscray Road, as well as providing direct access to the Port at MacKenzie Road.
This vital second river crossing will provide a much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge, helping to move more than 9,000 trucks off local roads.
This connection will include ramps to the Port at MacKenzie Road and Appleton Dock Road for direct freeway access.
We’ll also build new open spaces near Moonee Ponds Creek, planting thousands of trees and plants near walking and cycling paths and waterways.
Construction is 50% complete. An impressive 1,600t crane, visible on the city side of the Maribyrnong River, is the only one of its kind in Australia. The largest beam weighs approximately 180 tonnes, spanning a gigantic 50 metres in length.
Intermittent road closures will be in place in Maribyrnong Street from January until July 2023. This is so the steel girders can be transported to the site, prepared for lifting and then lifted and placed into their final position above the Maribyrnong River.
Construction of the bridges continues until late 2023.
Backyard Planting Program a success
Residents near project construction sites will have greener gardens in years to come, thanks to our Backyard Planting Program.
We acknowledge that a construction project of this size impacts on the community we are working in.
Through this program we provided residents along the project corridor with free native plants or nursery vouchers to help green their home and suburbs.
In total, more than $10,000 in vouchers were given away to eligible residents.
Elevated motorway construction progressing
The 1,200 tonne, 116m long launching gantry on Footscray Road has been turned around, with construction on the city bound carriageway now almost complete.
The massive crane started building a new elevated motorway over Footscray Road late last year, which will connect twin tunnels under Yarraville with CityLink, the Port and the CBD.
It will also house part of a new 2.5km dedicated cycling path, giving cyclists a safe express route to and from the city, supporting Melbournians to choose active transport options.
Citybound lane closures on Footscray Road between Dock Link Road and Appleton Dock Road will remain in place until early April.
From April to mid-May eastbound lanes will re-open to traffic and westbound lanes on Footscray Road between Dock Link Road and Appleton Dock Road will be closed as the launching gantry crane switches sides to continue building the westbound elevated structure.
More information about this closure will be available closer to the time.
Check out the crane as it side shifts from one side of the road to the other.