The outbound service lanes on Footscray Road, between Appleton Dock Road and Dock Link Road, will reopen 13 November 2025, including the loop connecting citybound and outbound service lanes.

Once opened, the centre lanes on Footscray Road will become through lanes only. Motorists traveling west wishing to access Market Gate 1, Dock Link Road (north and south),  Mackenzie Road or Sims Street Loop must do so from the outbound service lane, not the main carriageway.

To access the newly opened outbound service lanes:

• Outbound traffic should turn left off Footscray Road’s main carriageway after passing the Appleton Dock Road
  intersection.
• Alternatively, motorists may perform a U-turn at the final intersection before Shepherd Bridge, aligned with the Linfox driveway. From there, they can either make a right turn at the Dock Link Road intersection to access Dock Link Road South, U’turn at Market Gate 2 to access the outbound service lanes, or continue straight and follow the loop road to reach the outbound service lanes, consistent with pre-project arrangements.
• Citybound traffic should enter via the existing citybound service lanes, which are accessible from the Sim Street loop and Footscray Road’s citybound main carriageway.Once in the service lanes, motorists can make U-turns at Market Gate 2 or continue straight and follow the loops road to reach the outbound service lanes, as previously arranged before the project commenced.

As part of the West Gate Tunnel Project, we’ve delivered a range of upgrades in the Port of Melbourne area to improve safety, connectivity, and access, this includes:

• A smoother, safer driving experience through resurfaced and widened lanes, signalised intersections, and extended service lanes along Footscray Road to support more efficient traffic flow.
• Enhanced Port access with upgraded connections via Footscray Road and new ramps at MacKenzie Road and Appleton Dock Road, providing direct freeway access.
• A new elevated roadway above Footscray Road, linking to CityLink, Dynon Road, and the broader road network.
• Upgraded walking and cycling paths to support faster, safer travel between the Port and the city.

As part of the West Gate Tunnel Project, we’ve delivered a range of upgrades in the Port of Melbourne area to improve safety, connectivity, and access, this includes:

• A smoother, safer driving experience through resurfaced and widened lanes, signalised intersections, and extended service lanes along Footscray Road to support more efficient traffic flow.
• Enhanced Port access with upgraded connections via Footscray Road and new ramps at MacKenzie Road and Appleton Dock Road, providing direct freeway access.
• A new elevated roadway above Footscray Road, linking to CityLink, Dynon Road, and the broader road network.
• Upgraded walking and cycling paths to support faster, safer travel between the Port and the city.

The outbound service lanes on Footscray Road, between Appleton Dock Road and Dock Link Rd, will reopen 13 November 2025, including the loop connecting citybound and outbound service lanes.

Two signalised crossings along existing walking and cycling path are expected to open once the service road loop is operational:

• The Market Gate #1 intersection crossing – this will open with the next section of the service lanes and will serve as an optional north–south crossing point across Footscray Road (as per pre-project).

Note: The Dock Link Road intersection crossing is already open and serves as an existing optional north–south crossing point across Footscray Road.

A path crossing that transects the loop road - This crossing is a required route for path users travelling east–west along Footscray Road.

Bus stops

• Two bus stops will be reinstated on each side of Footscray Road (citybound and outbound service lanes), for a total of four stops. The exact reinstatement date is yet to be confirmed.
• Previously, bus stops were located on the main carriageway before the West Gate Tunnel Project, which required through traffic to slow down or change lanes for stopping buses. Additionally, city-bound passengers had to cross the service lanes to access the stops.
• Once reinstated, buses will travel along the service lanes, with the new stops accessible directly from the shared user paths on either side of Footscray Road