12 March 2025
When we'll be working
Ongoing work, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
What we’ll be doing
The West Gate Tunnel Project will continue works in 2025 throughout Yarraville and at the ‘northern portal’, the northern entry and exit for the West Gate Tunnel at Whitehall Street.
These activities include continuing to build the tunnel ventilation structure, timber net structure and completion of the freeway control centre finishing works. We continue to install the lighting and road operating technology systems within the tunnel. Asphalting and landscaping in Hyde Street, Youell Street and Whitehall Street will also take place in mid-2025.
We’ll also continue to construct the elevated walking and cycling path along Harris Street and the roadworks to connect the tunnel to the new bridges under construction over the Maribyrnong River. If any of these works are expected to be disruptive, we will be in touch before they begin.
| Impact | Date (*Subject to change) |
|---|---|
| Nightworks (8pm to 5am) at the northern portal and surrounds. These works will support construction activities including vehicle movements and the deliveries of materials. Minor vibration and noise may be experienced during the 24/7 works. We’ll continue to closely monitor vibration and noise. | Ongoing |
| Construction vehicle movements in the area, 24/7, including concrete trucks, cranes and rollers accessing site via Whitehall Street, Youell Street and surrounds | Ongoing |
| A 460 tonne crane will be delivered and installed at the tunnel site. This crane will be used to lift and install the large steel diagrid sections. A 40 tonne crane will be set up on Harris Street to support installing the cladding to the elevated Shared Use Path structure. | From March |
| Various disruptions to the way you travel on Whitehall Street, between Youell Street and Somerville Road. Various overnight lane closures of Whitehall Street in both directions will be required at times to facilitate construction activities. Works may also require closures of the shared user path. We’ll inform local communities of closures before the works start via bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions, social media and email. | Between March and June |
| Occasional night-time lighting. Lighting will be directed away from homes wherever possible while our teams work at night to avoid impact to residents. | Ongoing |
| Occasional road and lane closures. We’ll inform local communities of closures via bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions, social media, direct mail and email. | Ongoing |
Northern portal at Whitehall Stsreet
The tunnel site continues to be a significant area of construction with ongoing activities taking place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The landscaping and water basin construction that will become open space is underway. Preparation works are underway near Maribyrnong Street.
These works include breaking down the concrete slab which has been used to safely hold and support cranes. The team will start to construct the path which will connect to the new shared user infrastructure in the area.
Northern portal ventilation and timber net structure
Work to build the ventilation structure inside the northern portal continues. Works include pouring concrete to form the walls of the structure as well as installing precast concrete panels. Once the walls have been built, we will begin placing the steel frame and architectural panels on the outside of the concrete walls.
Deliveries of timber net structure segments are underway, and you will begin to see timber net pieces installed at the tunnel entry and exit points throughout March. The innovative timber net structure will ensure a visually comfortable and safe lighting transition for drivers in and out of the tunnels.
Freeway Control Centre and Maintenance Building
The Freeway Control Centre (FCC) structure is in operation, with finishing works in progress. This building will be the operations centre for the West Gate Tunnel and the West Gate Freeway once the tunnel has opened to traffic. The structure of the maintenance building on Whitehall Street is complete with the internal fit out underway.
Ongoing works in the tunnel
Works within the tunnel continue to progress. The team have completed the construction of up to 90% of the cross passages which are smaller, pedestrian sized tunnels that provide safe access between the two road tunnels. The team are focussing on installing the lighting and road operating technology systems within each of the tunnels.
Youell Street and Lyons Street
Future works on Youell Street will include extending the site area further west to construct the cul-de-sac at the east end of Youell Street. Remaining works in this area include kerbing, drainage works, asphalting and roadworks. Near the eastern end of Youell Street, construction of the maintenance and approach carriageways in to the tunnels will continue. These activities require surface roller equipment. Landscaping near Youell Street will also take place.
Harris Street walking and cycling path
Construction of the Shared Use Path along Harris Street, over Whitehall Street will continue as we near completion of the elevated structure and surrounding works. The remaining works include lifting and installing the balustrade, handrails, installing drainage components and the mesh top to the structure, concreting works on the Harris Street footpath, landscaping and road line marking. The Yarraville Gardens reinstatement works in this area will also take place during this time.
Hyde Street
Hyde Street will be closed between Harris Street and Somerville Road during night shifts for approximately 2 weeks later in the year to complete asphalting and line marking. These works will occur during night shift and the road will reopen during the day. A new bus stop will open at the intersection of Hyde Street and Sommerville Road.
Whitehall Street
Various disruptions to the way you travel on Whitehall Street, between Youell Street and Somerville Road, will be required to facilitate various works. Lane closures will be required when the team work on the centre median and complete a sewer line cross over, as well as during the final cladding of the Harris Street walking and cycling path.
A closure of the walking and cycling path along Whitehall Street is required during March and April to facilitate the drainage works.
Ongoing monitoring in Yarraville
You may see our team carrying out water sampling as part of our regular groundwater monitoring requirements to confirm that ground water movement is as expected. This is common for tunnel construction areas. As construction nears completion, the team is planning to demobilise and remove the equipment when it is no longer required. These works may include traffic changes for drivers on local roads and occasional nightworks.
More detail on what you can expect during these works
- Water-spray trucks and road sweepers will be used in local streets around our worksites, keeping local roads clean during construction.
- Changes in traffic conditions may be experienced during these activities.
Thank you
We appreciate our work can be disruptive and thank you for your understanding.
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 or visit westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au