Inner-west motorists are being warned to expect more traffic disruptions this weekend as a huge tower crane used for construction of the West Gate Tunnel project, is removed.
Outbound lanes and ramps on the West Gate Freeway will be closed from Friday night to Monday morning as the crane is dismantled and removed from the middle of the freeway piece by piece.
The 50-metre-high tower crane has been used in the construction of the outbound tunnel exit, between Williamstown and Millers Road and has also been lifting pieces of the tunnel ventilation structure into place over the past two years, including the steel frame and cladding.
Motorists are advised to avoid the West Gate Bridge and expect significant delays of up to an hour from 11:59 pm on April 11 to 5.00am on April 14, with the West Gate Freeway to be reduced to two lanes outbound, between Williamstown Road and Millers Road.
All lanes of the West Gate Freeway will also be closed overnight outbound between Williamstown Road and Millers Road on Friday and Sunday nights for the setup and dismantling of a 450-tonne crane to assist with the weekend work.
Additionally, the Williamstown Road outbound entry ramp will be closed across the weekend.
“During the weekend works, plan ahead and allow extra time to get where you need to go,” said Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams who assured local motorists and residents that the end of the tunnel project and the traffic disruption it has caused, was in sight.
“Works are progressing well on the West Gate Tunnel’s twin tunnels which will help take 9,000 trucks off local roads,” she said.
The West Gate Tunnel is expected to open by late 2025 or early 2026.
For more information on the road closures and disruptions caused by the project, visit: bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions.
