Construction tracker

The West Gate Tunnel Project is more than just a road. The project will deliver:

a widened West Gate Freeway with additional express lanes between the M80 and the West Gate Bridge
a tunnel from the West Gate Freeway that will take cars and trucks underground and off residential streets in the inner west
a bridge over the Maribyrnong River, linking to an elevated road along Footscray Road, will get people where they need to go in the city’s north, and ramps will give trucks direct access to the port
over 14km of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, creating almost 9 hectares of new parks, and landscaping existing open space.

Progress highlights

Tunnel boring machines Bella and Vida start work on the twin tunnels

Bella and Vida are the largest TBMs in the southern hemisphere - each measuring 15.6m in diameter and 90m long and weighing 4000 tonnes each, which is about the same as 20 Boeing 747 airplanes.

The work in developing the launch site for these giant, state-of-the-art machines coupled with assembling the machines required thousands of hours of work from the specialist crews.

In March 2022, TBM Bella began her 4km journey digging the westbound tunnel on the West Gate Tunnel Project. This was followed a month later by TBM Vida on the 2.8km inbound tunnel. The TBMs will build the new twin tunnels between the Maribyrnong River and the West Gate Freeway, providing a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge. Visit our Tunnel boring machines webpage to learn more about the TBMs.

TBM Bella assembled in the launching box

TBM Bella components arriving in Port Melbourne

TBM Bella components arriving being delivered to site at night — TBM Bella arriving at the site for assembly

Close up of TBM Bella cutterhead being lifted — Lifting the cutterhead for TBM Bella

Moving TBM cutterhead into position on a large green grane — Moving TBM cutterhead into position

Lifting cutterhead for TBM Bella — TBM Bella cutterhead lowered into position

Crew standing infront of assembled TBM cutterhead

An internal view of TBM Bella. — An aerial view of TBM Bella.

Workers at the West Gate Tunnel Project examining the newly lined tunnel.

TBM Vida starts her journey - a worker monitoring the TBM via the control panel.

Elevated road builder starts its journey

The elevated road builder – or launching gantry – is essential machinery in building the elevated road that will be above Footscray Road. The machine was installed in 2020 and started its journey in 2021 - lifting concrete segments into place to build the new road.

In 2022, the elevated gantry has finished its work in building the spans in the westbound direction. It has now switched sides and started building the eastbound carriageway towards the city.