Free weekend travel through West Gate Tunnel delayed until January, motorists to pay full tolls on opening day

The long-awaited West Gate tunnel opens on Sunday after years of construction, but motorists will face immediate tolls as free weekend travel is delayed until January.

The long-awaited West Gate tunnel opens on Sunday, but motorists hoping for a free ride will have to wait until January.

Beginning overnight on Saturday, the tunnel will be opened “progressively”, with operators Transurban hoping it will be fully operational by 7am.

However, the promised toll-free access to the tunnel on weekends will not start with the tunnel’s grand opening.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams said it had probably been a “safer bet” when the promise of toll-free travel was made that the tunnel would open in January.

Consequently motorists will have to pay for the first trips through the tunnel this December.

Motorists will have to pay to travel the West Gate Tunnel on opening day, with free weekend travel delayed until January. Picture: David Caird

The tunnel will eventually be used by 65,000 vehicles each day. Picture: David Caird

The government expects 65,000 vehicles will use the tunnel each day.

While motorists have been told to expect 13 minutes of travel time savings travelling into the city, and 20 minutes on the return journey.

Ms Williams said the project was “critical to meet the challenges of growth in Melbourne’s west.”

“Tomorrow is a very exciting day. This is a project that has been a long time in the making and is critical for Melbourne’s west,” she said.

“So to have that alternative river crossing, that alternative to the Westgate Bridge finally coming online is critical to us being able to meet the challenge of that growth in Melbourne’s west and be able to facilitate those traffic movements not only now but for generations to come.”

Motorists will be watched by CCTV cameras while using the tunnel, with operators able to deploy assistance within 10 minutes of an incident. Picture: David Caird

Inside the Transurban Freeway Control Centre. Picture: David Caird

Roads Minister Melissa Horne shot down locals’ concerns about increased fuel emissions through the tunnel’s massive exhaust stacks, which Maribyrnong residents fear will send toxic smoke over their neighbourhoods.

“The EPA has signed off on the operating requirements for those ventilation stacks that says that the ventilation stacks are absolutely working as intended,” Mr Horne said.

“Look, we’ll keep an eye on how that how that continues, what that what that’s tracking, and I know that the Minister for the Environment has a keen eye to making sure that this is operating as intended.”

Originally published as Free weekend travel through West Gate Tunnel delayed until January, motorists to pay full tolls on opening day