See what it’s like to drive through the $10.8bn West Gate Tunnel: Watch video

Motorists’ long-awaited alternative to the West Gate Bridge is finally taking shape. The Herald Sun took an exclusive drive through the $10.8bn tunnel to see what it was like.

The entire length of the West Gate Tunnel’s underground roads have been built, marking a major milestone for the $10.8 billion project.

Almost 7km of concrete road decks were recently laid along the inbound and outbound tunnels, which run from the West Gate Freeway to near the Maribyrnong River in Yarraville.

The Herald Sun was taken on an exclusive tour of the 16m-wide structures, dug by the largest road boring machines ever used in the Southern Hemisphere, and for the first time drove the length of the 2.8km city bound tunnel to document project progress.

As the minibus crawled along the tunnel at 5kmh, we were blissfully unaware of passing underneath Hyde St and Stoney Creek, which were up to 30 metres above our heads.

The tunnel was dug by the largest road boring machines ever used in the Southern Hemisphere. Picture: David Caird

Hyde St and Stoney Creek is up to 30 metres above, but you wouldn’t know. Picture: David Caird

Legal and construction logjams that slammed the brakes on the project for three years are now firmly in the rear vision mirror of builders, and motorists’ long-awaited alternative to the West Gate Bridge is literally taking shape.

Concrete safety barriers were being attached to walls and drainage and mechanical systems assembled by teams of workers.

More than 250 people worked 24/7 to build the tunnels’ road surface, which will receive a final layer of asphalt closer to the project’s opening date, currently scheduled for late 2025.

By the end of the journey through the City bound section, light was pouring into the tunnel — a fitting cliche to describe the growing optimism among project teams.

Contracts for the mega build were inked back in 2017, after Transurban brought the project to the Andrews Government for consideration in 2015.

But in 2019 major works ground to a halt amid concerns about the disposal of soil contaminated with industrial chemicals such as PFAS.

A cross section of the outbound portal exit. Picture: David Caird

Concrete safety barriers are being attached to walls and drainage and mechanical systems assembled by teams of workers. Picture: David Caird

The Maribyrnong River bridge heading to the city. Picture: David Caird

Tunnel boring machines did not switch on until 2022, the same year the road was contracted to open.
Transurban and builders John Holland and CPB negotiated a settlement for the saga, which contributed to a budget blowout worth $4.1bn — almost half of which was coughed up by taxpayers.

Major summer disruptions along the West Gate Freeway and road interchanges have accompanied construction of the tunnels, but this summer’s closures of lanes — including on the Bolte Bridge when sections of an elevated structure are connected — are likely to be the last, given major construction should wrap up next year.

Extensive safety testing will then proceed, meaning the project is not scheduled to open until late 2025, but a sense of progress and accomplishment is now evident and milestones are being regularly achieved.

And the State Government is once more talking about a vital part of its Big Build, which it says will “slash travel times by up to 20 minutes”.

Premier Jacinta Allan will visit the project this weekend, along with new Transport Infrastructure Minister, Danny Pearson.

They are already pointing to the benefits of the project once it opens, including that another major Maribyrnong River crossing will be available to motorists.

A 760m road bridge on the eastern side of the project that straddles the river is a striking backdrop for this, and road decking is now being laid on the structures.

Mr Pearson said the last beams being lifted into place for that part of the project will be another significant moment for the builders.

A steel beam being lifted into place. Picture: Supplied

“This is a huge milestone for the West Gate Tunnel which is powering towards the finish line ahead of opening in 2025 – taking thousands of trucks off local roads and providing a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge,” he said.

Two tunnel boring machines that built the inbound and outbound structures – Bella and Vida – have also being dismantled.

At the western end of the tunnels, the 15.6m-wide cutterhead from Bella is in its final resting place, ready to be concreted over and buried.

Ms Allan and Mr Pearson will be hoping that once the toll road opens in 2025, at least a year ahead of the next state election, motorists’ memories of the pain they have felt during this protracted build will remain buried with Bella.