First look inside one of the state’s biggest infrastructure projects

Beneath the city lies one of the state’s biggest infrastructure projects, the West Gate Tunnel. Take a look inside as tradies work around the clock to complete the long-awaited project.

Deep below the city lies one of the state’s biggest infrastructure projects that has caused Melburnians some painful headaches.

The Sunday Herald Sun was given exclusive underground access to the $10b project to see exactly what has caused commuters so many disruptions across the city.

Over 3,700 hardworking contractors, tradies and site managers are all working around the clock as a six-month construction blitz on the West Gate Tunnel Project comes to a close.

Much of the tunnel itself is built, with tradies working hard to install lights, barriers and ventilation systems, with the bitumen to be poured shortly after.

Executive project director, Peter Lellyett, outside the outbound entry and inbound exit of the West Gate Tunnel. Picture: David Caird

Outbound entry to the West Gate Tunnel and inbound exit. Picture: David Caird

The works will see 9000 trucks taken off local streets. Picture: David Caird

Several ramps and bridges connecting the tunnel with the port and key roads in West Melbourne are filled with cranes placing massive concrete pillars in place.

The works will see 9000 trucks taken off local streets and onto the new motorways that are designed to improve traffic flow and congestion, slashing up to 20 minutes off a trip to the city.

Work is getting done, slowly but surely.

Acting Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Sonya Kilkenny said the ongoing disruptions would be worth it in the long run.

“We know it’s been a frustrating time with disruptions for people living in the west and we thank them for their patience and understanding while major upgrade works take place, to significantly improve Victoria’s transport network,” she said.

“We promised we’d build an alternative to the West Gate Bridge to keep our city moving, and we’re getting on with it – creating thousands of jobs and setting our booming western suburbs up for the future.”

Work is getting done, slowly but surely. Picture: David Caird

Footscray Road launching gantry. Picture: David Caird

The elevated road is now at 83 per cent complete with the massive launching gantry in place finishing the construction. Picture: David Caird

The current Footscray Rd has reopened in both directions as hundreds of tradies work from above, with a six-lane elevated road connecting the west sitting at 83 per cent completion.

Highly trained workers on the span-by-span construction work feverishly to keep progress moving.

Concrete sections, each weighing 100 tonnes, were manufactured in Benalla and transported to the city, forming key parts of the 2km elevated road.

A few kilometres away, cranes capable of lifting 600 tonnes worth of material carry concrete segments across the Maribyrnong River, which will allow truckies direct access to the ports from the tunnel.

West Gate Tunnel project maps: Picture: BigBuild

Once complete, ramps will also take motorists directly from the tunnel to CityLink, Dynon Rd and Wurundjeri Way.

The closure of Dynon Rd, which has caused traffic carnage in the past two weeks, will soon be a thing of the past as strengthening and widening works above the rail lines take place.

Several key train lines are also shut for the works, which has caused mayhem for commuters heading into the city.

Dynon Rd will be shut for another nine weeks and works on the entire West Gate Tunnel Project are due to be complete in 2025.