15 April 2023 to 30 September 2023
Over the last few months, the West Gate Tunnel Project has been working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take apart and remove the tunnel boring machine (TBM) “Vida” which arrived at the city bound site in mid-February. This retrieval process is continuing with sections being lifted from the site by a gantry crane and transported to the tunnelling hub at 221 Whitehall Street, Yarraville.
Smaller purpose-built machines known as back-end gantries, have been moving behind the TBM to build the road level. These will also be taken apart and removed once the TBM retrieval is complete.
We will be in touch with local communities to discuss these works further. We’d like to talk with residents and businesses about how we’ll be monitoring and reducing construction impacts, as well as the options available to you if you experience impacts during the work. We encourage you to contact us on 1800 105 105 or info@wgta.vic.gov.au to learn more about the next steps.
| Impact | Dates |
|---|---|
24/7 construction noise including:
Minor vibration may occur during our work. We’ll be closely monitoring vibration at all times. | April to September 2023 |
Construction vehicle movements in the area, 24/7, including:
Super loads are expected to be completed end of June. Occasional closures of the West Gate Freeway’s Williamstown Road inbound exit ramp with detours via Millers Road, Blackshaws Road and Melbourne Road. TBM retrieval: This ramp is due to be closed several times at night when large sections Gantry Crane removal: West Gate Freeway’s Williamstown Road inbound exit ramp will be closed 24/7 across several weekends. We’ll inform local communities of ramp closures via bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions, social media and email updates. | April to September 2023 |
| Night-time lighting to keep our working areas safe and secure. Lighting will be angled away from homes whenever possible while we are working at night. | April to September 2023 |
Other works at the site near Williamstown Road
Cross passage and smoke duct construction (April until September)
The team will also continue to build one of the cross passages and two smoke duct crossings underground at the citybound portal. Cross passages are smaller, pedestrian sized tunnels that provide safe access between the road tunnels.
These are used for maintenance and in case of an emergency within the tunnel. Smoke duct crossings are part of the ventilation system and control the spread of smoke in case of an emergency.
These works include excavation, spraying concrete, steel fixing and pouring concrete with the majority of these works to take place 24 hours a day.
Residents close to the area will be contacted to discuss these works further if they are expected to be disruptive.
Gantry Crane retrieval (Second half 2023)
Once the TBM and the back-end gantries have been lifted from the retrieval pit and have been taken from site, the large green gantry crane will then be taken apart and removed. It will be demobilised across several weekends with works to take place 24/7. The Williamstown Road inbound exit ramp at the West Gate Freeway will be closed during these weekends while the works are undertaken.
A reminder will be sent closer to the start of these works.
More detail on what to expect
- We’ll be working during the day and at night
- Water spraying trucks and road sweepers will be used in local streets around our worksites, keeping local roads clean during construction
- You may experience changes in local traffic conditions while we’re at work
- We’ll be in touch with the most affected residents to discuss potential impacts.
Thank you
We appreciate our work can be disruptive and thank you for your understanding and patience.
Works may be rescheduled in the event of unexpected impacts.
For updates or questions, please call 1800 105 105, email us at info@wgta.vic.gov.au, visit westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au or you can drop into our Info Centre at 2 Somerville Road, Yarraville, 3013, from 10am–5pm on Monday–Friday or 10am–4pm on Saturday for further information on the project.