West Gate Tunnel could cause all-day peak-hour traffic in Melbourne: council

MELBOURNE’S inner north and west could see peak-hour traffic all day due to road chaos triggered by the West Gate Tunnel, says City of Melbourne.

MELBOURNE City Council remains concerned about the impact of West Gate Tunnel traffic on the streets of North and West Melbourne despite a response from the State Government.

Town Hall analysis last year predicted all-day peak-hour traffic on key roads in the two inner suburbs.

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But the government’s response has failed to ease fears of traffic chaos created by vehicles entering from Dynon Rd and Footscray Rd.

A new report into the $6.7 billion tunnel project released today said the state government needed to do more for the city.

Proposed design of the elevated veloway. Source: West Gate Tunnel Project

“Management remains very concerned about the project’s impacts on the City of Melbourne and its community,’’ the report said.

“The new connection to the Dynon Road Bridge will feed traffic directly into the local road network in North Melbourne and result in peak-hour conditions for 12 to 14 hours in both directions on weekdays along the only four streets which run east west though the area.’’

The council also said the Dynon Rd connection and the Wurundjeri Way extension would severely affect the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor.

The project proposes a new 1.5 hectare open space in the area but council said it would not work well because of its location, noise and air pollution.

Footscray Rd currently has trees down the median strip. Picture: City of Melbourne

How the elevated road over Footscray Road will look with the new bridge. Picture: City of Melbourne

The council has won a commitment from the state government that any tree removed would be replaced by five new ones, as well as trying to maintain viable trees where possible.

A total of 744 would be lost across the project.

Many trees would be ripped up along Footscray Rd, which the council said had the potential to be a “tree-lined boulevard”.

Instead, an elevated road will be built on top, creating a total of 18 lanes on and above Footscray Rd.

The elevated road would also create a barrier for its 100-year life, frustrating future development of land in the area, officers said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announces the start of construction of the tunnel. Picture: AAP

The council will have input into the design of the elevated veloway for cyclists, after raising concerns about the risk of the cycle path being an isolated, unattractive space to riders.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the tunnel would give Victorians an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, would create more than 6000 jobs and take thousands of trucks off inner west streets.

“We’ve been working with the City of Melbourne every step of the way on this project, and we’ll continue do so throughout construction,’’ Mr Donnellan said.

North and West Melbourne is already being impacted by works on the Melbourne Metro underground rail tunnel which will create a new station and Arden precinct.

Work on the West Gate Tunnel project started this week even though parliament has yet to sign off on the funding model with Transurban.

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@IanRoyall