Two more milestones have been reached on the West Gate Tunnel Project, bringing the project one step closer to completion.
The underground roadway has now been completed at the outbound tunnel exit, as well as the connection between the new bridge across Maribyrnong River and Footscray’s elevated road, with the giant beams now lifted into place.
Work is continuing to join all pieces of the project together, with the main bridge over the Maribyrnong River to create a second river crossing from the west.
According to the government, it will span 760 metres, featuring three lanes in each direction, and allowing motorists to travel from the West Gate Tunnel to CityLink and the CBD.
On top of the completed roads, the two tunnel boring machines that built the tunnels Bella and Vida, have finished their journeys and been dismantled, alongside the 400-tonne cranes that helped remove them from deep under the ground.
A crew of more than 250 people has worked around the clock to install almost seven kilometres of road deck in both tunnels.
The crew will now move onto installing hundreds of kilometres of electrical and safety systems, while building the ground level ventilation system at the outbound tunnel exit and architectural timber features at its entrances.
Premier Jacinta Allan said from Footscray to Melton, the west is booming.
“We’re keeping pace by building the vital second river crossing Victorians need to get them home sooner and safer,” she said.
“Crews have done an amazing job working around the clock under our feet and high above the ground to power ahead on this project. I want to thank them for their work in building this landmark project for our city’s west.”
Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson this is a huge milestone for the project.
“It will take thousands of trucks off local roads and provide a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge.”
The project is due for completion in 2025.
