A virtual reality bike ride, a scale model of a tunnel boring machine and an interactive digital model of the West Gate Tunnel Project are just some of what’s on offer at the project’s new Info Centre. The Info Centre, near the corner of Somerville Road and Whitehall Street, gives people a hands-on experience of the new roads and bikes paths being built as part of the project.
“Communications Director for the project’s builder CPB Contractors & John Holland Joint Venture, Tim Holmes, said the Info Centre is an opportunity for people to get a real sense of the project and its benefits.
“We’re going to be building the West Gate Tunnel for the next four years and we encourage people to come down to the Info Centre and learn about what’s happening in their neighborhood,” Tim said.
“The virtual reality tools will help people visualise the project including the new roads, tunnel, upgraded cycling paths and new open spaces,”
“With everything from large-scale maps to touch-screen displays, the facility is designed to be inviting and easy for all age groups to use.”
A touch-screen 3D interactive model allows visitors to experience the widened West Gate Freeway, the new tunnel, elevated freeway and connections to CityLink and the CBD.
“The 3D model can also show people what the finished design will look like from their local area.” Tim added.
Visitors can also take a virtual reality ride along the new state-of-the-art veloway – a 2.5 kilometre elevated cycling freeway above Footscray Road – while sitting on a stationary bike.
For those interested in the specialised machinery that will build the tunnels under Yarraville, a model tunnel boring machine (TBM) gives an inside look.
The 1:50 scale model took over 700 hours to create and replicates the detailed internal mechanisms of the real TBMs.
A virtual world on wheels – the project’s mobile info hub – will soon be visiting local events and festivals in the west.
A van has been specially fitted out to take information about the West Gate Tunnel Project to the community.
People can pop by the mobile info hub to drive through the future West Gate Tunnel on an interactive touch screen, have a virtual reality experience of the state-of-the art veloway, or watch the latest project videos.
The Info Centre is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. It will be closed from Saturday 22 December 2018 and reopen Wednesday 2 January 2019.
