Impacts of West Gate Tunnel project on commuters revealed
LATEST: TRUCK curfews on inner west streets could be written into legislation, but there’s a catch. Find out how the West Gate Tunnel will affect you.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TRUCK curfews on inner west streets could be written into legislation, but there won’t be extra resources to carry out enforcement, Premier Daniel Andrews says.
A new ring of tolls and road bans will hit thousands of trucks unless they use the new $5.5 billion tunnel connecting the West Gate Freeway to CityLink.
A 10,000 page environmental effect statement has been released showing that all trucks using the West Gate Freeway would face a new toll regardless of whether they use the new tunnel or continue over, or come via, the West Gate Bridge.
RELATED CONTENT:
RESIDENTS WANT BARRIERS FOR RESERVE FOR WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT
WESTERN DISTRIBUTOR HITS POTHOLE AS THREATS TO BLOCK PROJECT
ANDREWS SWEATING ON DISTRIBUTOR DEAL: MATT JOHNSTON ANALYSIS
DANIEL ANDREWS KNOCKS BACK $750M WESTERN DISTRIBUTOR OFFER: PM
And motorists heading to the CBD via the new tunnel in the morning rush hour face the state’s first peak period tolls to try to discourage them from entering certain city streets.
At the same time, truck curfews will be slapped on streets around the Port of Melbourne, sparking criticism transport operators will have to inflate cost of goods to offset new costs.
Mr Andrews said today truck curfews could be written into legislation to ensure heavy vehicles dd not rat run through suburbs in Melbourne’s west to flout tolls.
However, it is unlikely that more resources would be invested by the Andrews Government to carry out enforcement.
Mr Andrews defended the project despite the EES revealing the promised time saving of 20 minutes only applied in a few trips on the new road.
“We can have a debate about a range of time savings or we can just pause for a moment and think about where will we be in 10 years if we don’t build this,” he said
“This represents great value.”
Mr Andrews confirmed negotiations over the controversial toll extension are ongoing.
Previously the government have said tolls could be extended 10 to 12 years.
However, Mr Andrews declined to commit to the figure today.
The toll rates are still subject to negotiation between Transurban — which is funding most of the project in return for tolling revenue — and the Andrews Government, but the EES points to two new toll points on the West Gate Freeway at either side of Millers Road and one more at Hyde Rd.
Another toll point is at the city access ramps to Footscray Road, Dynon Road and Wurundjeri Way — which would hit motorists with an extra charge if they get off there during the morning peak.
Modelling on tolling has been done as much as 20 per cent above the 2015 CityLink rate for trucks of about $13.00.
Cars using the tunnel will likely be hit with the same toll as the Bolte Bridge — now $3.
Locals fear without proper monitoring of the truck bans on inner-west roads the streets will still be used as rat-runs, while transport companies are furious it will force them to use the paid highway.
Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said plans to curfew trucks and put them on a toll road will harm the Victorian economy.
“Transport operators will inevitably pass on the cost of higher tolls throughout the supply chain, so ultimately it is consumers that will foot the bill through higher prices for goods and services,’’Mr Anderson said.
But the government says truck travel to the Port of Melbourne from Princes Freeway will be at least 12 minutes faster in peak times — leading to cost and time savings for transport companies.
Greens western suburbs MP Colleen Hartland said there was deep community concern the western suburbs “mega toll road” would not stop trucks from travelling on inner west roads.
The government says 9000 trucks a day will be removed from local roads and 8000 from the West Gate Bridge with the tunnel and the bans.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan promised cars would not be tolled on the upgraded West Gate Freeway or there would be any charges on the existing road network.
“We’re building a dedicated route to the Port of Melbourne to relieve the pressure on the West Gate Bridge and the EES shows that the tunnel will do just that,” Mr Donnellan said.
The EES says there would be “innovative tolling solutions” for night time discounts, trip caps for use of the tunnel and the CityLink and discounts for multiple trips to and from the port.
More freight would be encouraged to be moved at night with discounts for truckers using the toll routes after sundown.
The report says final toll price and structure, are still subject to negotiations through the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Market Led Proposal process.
Shadow treasurer Michael O’Brien said the document showed the project was “an absolute dud”.
He said there would be more trucks using the West Gate now than when the project was built.
“It shows that for spending billions of dollars, and years and years of extra tolls, Victorians will not really get any traffic relief at all,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It’s only going to take about 3 per cent of trucks off the West Gate, but 100 per cent of CityLink users have to pay extra tolls for years and years. This just doesn’t stack up.
“We’ve said we don’t see arguments for supporting people using CityLink paying extra tolls for years and years, for a project Labor never took to the election.”
THOUSANDS of motorists would save between eight and 15 minutes on trips from Melbourne’s west to the CBD each morning under plans for the new West Gate Tunnel.
But traffic is expected to pour into inner-city streets north of Melbourne and at Wurundjeri Way as people seek the new route to avoid the West Gate Bridge.
Two road tunnels — one inbound and one outbound — will be built with three lanes in each direction, joining the freeway to CityLink.
The government’s environmental effects statement shows that the outbound road tunnel can be built using the most recently released design, which would make it the longest in Victoria at 4km.
The inbound tunnel will be 2.8km long. Both will be built using custom-designed boring machines, and are set to open by 2022.
An extra 37,000 vehicles are expected to hit the West Gate Freeway each day by 2031, but 28,000 should avoid the West Gate Bridge by using the tunnel.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan has promised the project could be constructed while all lanes on the West Gate remain open in peak periods.
“We’re building the longest road tunnel Victoria has ever seen, connecting the west to the CBD and the port — and we’ll do it without closing lanes during peak periods.”
The EES also says that efforts should be made “to not compromise the performance of Footscray Rd and take into consideration major events (including events at Etihad Stadium)”.
It says some motorists will save up to 20 minutes per trip in the afternoon by 2031.
But motorists who use the West Gate Freeway from the Princes Freeway-M80 interchange and head into the CBD via the tunnel in the morning are tipped to save eight to 15 minutes.
Traffic and noise disruptions will be significant, with noise-reducing walls built to try to minimise issues for residents.
Opposition roads spokesman Ryan Smith said the EES documents showed, although 8000 trucks would come off the West Gate Bridge, an extra 9000 trucks would be using the bridge by the time the “truck off-ramp” is built.
The EES will be on public exhibition for 30 business days from late May to early July.
Greens western suburbs MP Colleen Hartland said the government was ramming its new western suburbs “mega toll road” through by only allowing a 30-day consultation period.
“It’s disgusting and eliminates community consultation,” she said.
‘Angels’: Hero Coles workers save mum’s life
A mother of three has opened up on how her life was saved after she suddenly collapsed while doing a routine supermarket shop.
Wildlife and traffic fears over music festival
Wildlife advocates fear a weekend music festival in central Victoria will endanger native animals including rescued joeys.