West Gate Tunnel Project to slash Geelong to Melbourne travel

THE $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel Project will reduce travel time between Geelong and Melbourne by up to 12 minutes, a spokesman says.

Artist Impression of the Second River Crossing of the West Gate Tunnel Project.

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THE $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel Project will reduce travel time between Geelong and Melbourne by up to 12 minutes, a spokesman says.

The second river crossing providing another route to Melbourne’s medical precinct and port is also expected to slash commute times from Melbourne’s outer west.

West Gate Tunnel Project Communications Director Jim Carden said two lanes will be added to the West Gate Freeway in each direction, between the M80 Ring Road and Williamstown Rd, reducing the Melbourne to Geelong commute time.

“We look at between eight and 12 minutes. It’s not so much necessarily the linear time that it’s going to take but the reliability (the project will deliver) by decongesting the West Gate Bridge,” Mr Carden said.

He said motorists will be tolled to use twin three-lane tunnels under Yarraville, linking the Westgate Freeway to West Melbourne and Swanson Dock.

The freeway will be widened from eight to 12 lanes, with express lanes added between the Ring Road and West Gate Bridge.

Express lanes to the city & an alternative to the WGB. #Westgatetunnel will give you more time where you want to be pic.twitter.com/Ko60wGpQOv

— West Gate Tunnel (@WestGateTunnel) April 7, 2017

Mr Carden said all West Gate Freeway lanes will remain open at peak times during the four-year construction phase expected to begin in 2018.

“We’ve made a commitment to minimise traffic impact and maintain the same number of lanes during peak periods, a lot of work will happen at night,” he said.

He said speeds were likely to be reduced on the West Gate Freeway during construction.

Mr Carden said the project will provide a better freight route between south west Victoria and Melbourne.

“Between Geelong and Melbourne there are a lot of water crossings. VicRoads will be upgrading (culverts) to take 109-tonne trucks and the West Gate Tunnel will able to take 120-tonne trucks,” he said.

Shadow Roads and Infrastructure Minister Ryan Smith said the Opposition would complete the project following a 2018 election win.

“We’re not going to cancel any projects we think that’s irresponsible. I think we would have capacity for a renegotiation,” he said.

Mr Smith said the Opposition disagreed with extending the tolling period on CityLink to pay for the project and called for the project’s costing to be released.

“The method of paying for it is putting a burden on people who aren’t using the road,” he said.

“We think this a bad deal with the commercial sector and we would seek to make it a better one.”

An environment effects statement will be put out for public exhibition in late May.

When the project is complete it is expected to take 6,000 trucks off the West Gate Bridge daily.

The State Government will introduce truck bans in Yarraville and Footscray when the project is complete. The bans will not impact local trucks.

Originally published as West Gate Tunnel Project to slash Geelong to Melbourne travel