Trucks banned from parts Williamstown Road in new West Gate Tunnel curfew

After seven-years of campaigning, Melbourne’s west has had a “big win” with the government set to announce a new truck curfew on parts of Williamstown Rd when the West Gate Tunnel opens.

Trucks will be banned from driving on parts of Williamstown Rd at night and on weekends when the $10.2 billion West Gate Tunnel opens, following a major campaign by residents.

The truck curfew, set to be announced officially at the new toll road’s “discovery day” on Sunday, will be enforced from 8pm to 6am on weekdays and between 8pm Friday and 6am Monday – with exemptions for parcel and grocery delivery drivers.

The section where the curfew will be enforced is between Geelong St in Seddon and the West Gate Freeway in Yarraville.

Trucks will be banned from driving on parts of Williamstown Rd at night and on weekends when the $10.2 billion West Gate Tunnel opens.

Other residential thoroughfares in the inner west already have truck bans or curfews in place, or will have them introduced once the WGT opens next month.

This is because the tunnel project has included new tolling points on the West Gate Freeway between Millers Rd and Williamstown Rd for trucks, which sparked concerns drivers would attempt to avoid the charges by navigating neighbourhood streets.

Community group Save Willy Road has campaigned for a 24/7 ban on the road to stop thousands of trucks from container parks in Tottenham and Brooklyn thundering past residential areas to get to the port’s Webb Dock.

Community group Save Willy Road has campaigned for the truck curfew to stop them thundering past residential areas.

Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne, who is also the member for Williamstown, said the new night and weekend curfew was significant.

“We’re getting more trucks off local roads right across Melbourne’s west improving liveability and safety for locals,” she said.

Footscray MP Katie Hall hailed the shift as a “big win” for the local community.

Detailed modelling was done to assess traffic movements before the curfew was given the green light, and the ban is expected to shift hundreds of trucks to Grieve Parade.

Ms Horne said the new “no truck zone” on Williamstown Road would be monitored by smart roadside cameras that can detect vehicles that are exempt and issue fines to those without permits.

When it opens, the West Gate Tunnel could save motorists up to 20 minutes from the west. Picture: Ian Currie

Other roads to have bans in place include Francis Street, Somerville Road, Buckley Street, Moore Street, Blackshaws Road and Hudsons Road.

Ms Horne said the government was also rezoning land in the west to encourage container parks to relocate to industrial areas.

The West Gate Tunnel is finally due to open next month, after three years of delays and about $4bn in budget blowouts.

It will provide a tolled alternative to the West Gate Bridge that could save motorists up to 20 minutes from the west.

Up to 50,000 people are expected to attend the discovery day on Sunday, with participants able to join a fun run or walk through the new tunnel.

Originally published as Trucks banned from parts Williamstown Road in new West Gate Tunnel curfew