Jennifer Pittorino
Construction on the internal road surface of the twin tunnels in the West Gate Tunnel Project nears completion.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan joined workers on the project, to travel the length of the tunnel for the first time.
Now more than 70 per cent complete, more than 4.5 kilometres of road deck has been installed across both tunnels, with a specialist machine lifting and installing more than 2,000 giant 24-tonne concrete segments to create the future road surface.
The removal of both Tunnel Boring Machines is also underway, with a 400-tonne crane moving into position to lift the final pieces of TBM Bella’s 15-metre wide cutterhead out of the outbound portal.
Dismantling of TBM Vida is also nearing completion.
According to the state government, the twin tunnels will have capacity for thousands of vehicles per day across three lanes of traffic.
The state government said important pieces of the project are coming together, with widening works on the West Gate Freeway nearing completion and the giant launching gantry crane above Footscray Road preparing for its final lifts.
Work is also underway to construct the tunnel entries and exits and prepare for the installation of the timber net structures.
The state government said the project will slash congestion and travel time in the west, removing around 9000 trucks a day from local roads and creating 14 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths.
This is the first Australian tunnel to be constructed with an elevated road surface, providing another tunnel underneath to serve as an important point for maintenance of critical services, ventilation and emergency access.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said this is the biggest tunnel project Australia has ever seen.
“The West Gate Tunnel will slash travel times, take more than 9,000 trucks off local roads, and get families home safer and sooner,” she said.
“We thank the community for their patience and understanding while we get on with this important work to significantly improve Victoria’s transport network.”
