The West Gate Tunnel Project has now installed over half of the more than nine kilometres of noise walls earmarked to be installed along the West Gate Freeway.
So far this year, crews have installed approximately 1,800 of the 3,500 locally manufactured concrete panels that will provide neighbourhoods from Altona North through to Yarraville and Spotswood quieter homes, schools and parks.
The new and improved noise walls have been designed to reduce traffic noise, protect privacy and provide an attractive look. Importantly, they will provide residents of the west with some of the best quality noise walls in Victoria.
The construction program involves removing existing noise walls and installing the new and improved ones, as well as adding more noise barriers where there are none currently, including along Crofts Reserve in Altona North, McIvor Reserve and Stony Creek Reserve in Yarraville and Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood for greater enjoyment of parks for local residents.
Recognising the unique traffic noise issues for communities along the Freeway, the project team worked with the community to develop a traffic noise objective of 63 decibels. With some residents currently experiencing traffic noise levels of up to 70 decibels, many impacted will likely experience significantly reduced traffic noise when the new noise walls are installed.
The noise walls have been designed to reduce traffic noise at properties closest to the Freeway. By doing so, properties further away will be buffered from traffic noise and will also enjoy the benefits. Importantly, the new and upgraded noise walls will provide improved privacy for residents and an attractive look.
A key feature of the noise walls are their colourful acrylic panels. Using textured concrete and acrylic panels of pale blues and greens, it is designed to represent the rolling hills of Western Victoria’s You Yangs Regional Park, the traditional country of the Wadawurrung People.
The noise wall upgrades are part of a massive program of work to enhance connections in the West. This includes 14 kilometres of new or improved cycling and walking paths, with new links to parks and popular trails, as well as new parks and wetlands for communities to enjoy.
Crews will continue to install noise walls throughout 2021 to ensure installations are complete as soon as possible. In the meantime, look out for information in your letterbox from the project team advising of when noise wall installations are happening in your area. Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.
For more information on the new and improved noise walls, visit www.westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/about/keytopics/better-noise-walls
