Tunnel tracker

Tunnelling now completed

Tunnel boring is now complete on the two twin tunnels that will create a much-needed alternative to the congested West Gate Bridge.

TBM Vida completed her 2.8km journey building the inbound tunnel in February that started on the west side of the Maribyrnong River under Yarraville and finished at Williamstown Road near the West Gate Freeway.

TBM Bella completed her 4km journey digging the outbound tunnel exit in May breaking through at the West Gate Freeway between Williamstown and Millers Road in South Kingsville.

Bella is building the Outbound tunnel.

Bella is 3600m and 415 days from the starting location.

Vida is building the Inbound tunnel.

Bella is 2400m and 295 days from the starting location.

Where are they now?

Indicative only, residents and local businesses seeking specific information regarding the location of the Tunnel Boring Machines, please get in touch with the project team on 1800 105 105.

TBM Bella breaks through

TBM Bella has broken through in Yarraville, completing a 4km journey that started on the west side of the Maribyrnong River under Yarraville and finished at Williamstown Road near the West Gate Freeway.

Relive the moment when TBM Bella broke through the head wall.

What happens when the Tunnel Boring Machines finish?

After tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Bella and Vida finish digging, there’s still more work to be done to complete the twin tunnels before we can open them for use.

While TBMs Bella and Vida are boring under the earth, the insides of the tunnel are being built, starting with the installation of the concrete lining – forming the walls, roof and base of the tunnel. Behind each TBM, crews then work to build the road surface and install electrics, ventilation and safety systems.

Tunnel safety features

For smooth and safe operations of the tunnels,emergency cross passages are built that connect between the two tunnels. These cross passages allow for the safe evacuation of tunnel users during emergencies.

Building the tunnel entries

The start and end of each tunnel is being built using the ‘cut and cover’ method. This involves excavating a trench then covering it with a concrete deck to form a roof. This is where TBMs Bella and Vida start and end their journeys.

How the tunnels connect to the road network

Both citybound and westbound tunnel entrances and exits will be connected to the existing or new infrastructure. The citybound tunnel entrance and exit will be connected to the new bridge that is built across the Maribyrnong River. The westbound tunnel entrance and exit will be in the West Gate Freeway.

An illustration of how soil is processed from TBM to storage shed to disposal site

How soil is managed

To build the West Gate Tunnel, approximately 1.5 million cubic meters of rock and soil will need to be removed. Digging up this amount of soil to build the West Gate Tunnels will be a 24/7 operation. The West Gate Tunnel Project is being built in former industrial areas, testing has found low levels of the group of chemicals known as PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) will be found in some of the excavated soil during tunnelling. The levels of PFAS found in the soil removed during tunnelling is being published on the EPA website.