The West Gate Tunnel will improve travel to and from Melbourne’s west and create a much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge.

The project involves building four more lanes on the West Gate Freeway, twin tunnels under Yarraville and a new bridge over the Maribyrnong River that links to an elevated road above Footscray Road, taking people where they need to go in the city’s north.

When the West Gate Tunnel opens there will be 24/7 truck bans on local streets in the inner west, helping to improve road safety, local air quality and noise.

The project also includes 14km of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths for a continuous journey from Werribee to the city.

The West Gate Tunnel will cut travel times by up to 20 minutes, make travel more reliable, and create a more efficient route for freight to the Port of Melbourne.

The Victorian Government is partnering with Transurban to build a $6.7 billion suite of projects, including the West Gate Tunnel, Monash Freeway Upgrade and Webb Dock Access Improvements.

Together, these projects will improve travel from Pakenham to Geelong.

The West Gate Tunnel Project will be completed in 2022.