Wyndham drivers can expect to slash 10 minutes off their trips to and from the city once Melbourne’s second river crossing is built.
That’s the word from the state government, which at the weekend announced a consortium, headed by John Holland and CPB Contractors, as the winning bidders for the $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel project.
Construction is tipped to start early next year, and will include two three-lane tunnels spanning four kilometres under Yarraville, which will connect the West Gate Freeway to the Maribyrnong River, the Port of Melbourne, CityLink and the Melbourne CBD.
The southern outbound tunnel exit and entry points will be located near the Bradmills site in Altona North, while the northern exit and entry points will be sited next to undeveloped industrial land between Whitehall Street and the Maribyrnong River.
The project will also add two lanes in each direction along the West Gate Freeway, between the M80 Ring Road and Williamstown Road, and a new bridge over the Maribyrnong River, joining an elevated freeway over Footscray Road.
Meanwhile, people of the inner west will benefit from ramps between West Gate Freeway and Hyde Street that will divert trucks off residential Maribyrnong roads.
State roads minister Luke Donnellan said the updated design included “better community connections, less community impacts, more walking and cycling paths and around four MCGs of new open space”.
“The West Gate Tunnel project will slash 20 minutes travel time from a return trip to the city from the western suburbs,” Mr Donnellan said.
“For motorists in Wyndham, less congestion and more reliable travel times will mean less time spent in stop-start traffic and more time where they want to be.”
Wyndham council city economy, innovation and liveability director Kate Roffey welcomed the announcement.
“Any transport infrastructure in the west that increases the alternatives for transport-deprived residents and businesses is welcome,” Ms Roffey said.
“The Western Distributor is critical in providing an alternative route should the West Gate bridge need to be closed.
“The specific engineering details around the tunnel are unknown at this time, so council cannot comment directly on the technical details, however we have been working with VicRoads and Transurban to make any improvements on the design that we believe will help ease congestion for our residents.
“In particular, we are working to ensure there is adequate capacity between the Princes Freeway and the West Gate Bridge.
“We are also continuing to advocate strongly to bring the completion of the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road forward in the state government’s infrastructure timing.
“It will be critical for easing congestion in the future.”
