West Gate tunnel will create local traffic bedlam all day, every day: Melbourne City Council report

THE $5 billion West Gate Tunnel Project will create chaos in suburban streets all day, every day and will involve losing almost 750 trees, according to a damning report.

THE West Gate Tunnel Project will create peak-hour traffic in North Melbourne streets for up to 14 hours every day, a damning City of Melbourne report has said.

The council’s response to the state government’s major road project also condemns the loss of almost 750 trees and the damage to the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor, which the council planned to regenerate as open space.

The $5.5 billion project aims to build more lanes on the West Gate Freeway and dig a 4km tunnel linking the freeway near Yarraville to the Maribyrnong River. The tunnel will link to a bridge over the river and connect to Footscray Rd. Construction is due to begin in 2022.

WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT TO SLASH GEELONG TO MELBOURNE TRAVEL

The river crossing and tunnel entrance for the West Gate project. Pic supplied. The $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel will run from the freeway to Yarraville

Artist impression of the West Gate Tunnel.

IMPACTS OF WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT ON COMMUTERS REVEALED

The report, prepared by council officers and to be voted on by councillors on Tuesday, says that it supports improved access to the west, reduced truck traffic on residential streets and less congestion.

“However, we do not consider that the WGTP design will meet these objectives. It will lead to significant impacts which cannot be appropriately managed,’’ the report said.

The Dynon Rd connection will feed traffic directly into the local road network in North Melbourne, clogging suburban streets and slowing tram services from the CBD to the north and west.

The report said that four streets — Gatehouse, Arden, Queensberry and Victoria — will be jammed with traffic for between 12 and 14 hours every day. The project infrastructure will also compromise plans to develop new neighbourhoods such as E-Gate, near Docklands, and Arden.

The elevated Footscray Rd tollway is also criticised as creating “a significant barrier for its 100-year life” and undermining any potential development of land within 5km of the city centre.

Project works would lead to the digging up of 744 trees, equating to the loss of about 15,500 sqm of canopy.

Artist impression of West Gate Tunnel Project’s express veloway on Footscray Rd.

An artist impression of the West Gate Freeway at Fogarty Ave after the West Gate Tunnel Project is completed.

RESIDENTS WANT NOISE BARRIERS FOR RESERVE AS PART OF WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT

City of Melbourne transport chairman Nic Frances Gilley said the tollway goes against years of policy.

Cr Frances Gilley said the proposed Dynon Rd, Footscray Rd and Wurundjeri Way connections would funnel more traffic into North Melbourne and Docklands.

“(This will cause) longer peak-hour conditions and delays to tram and bus routes,’’ Cr Frances Gilley said.

“This money could be better spent on Melbourne Metro 2, connecting train services in Werribee to Fishermans Bend, Southern Cross and Parkville.”

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the West Gate Tunnel would slash congestion, provide a dedicated link to the port and connect people to jobs, education and services.

“A thorough and independent investigation into the environmental effects of the project is currently underway to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the community,” Mr Donnellan said.

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@IanRoyall