West Gate Tunnel Project crews have continued to power through works across all sections of the Project throughout 2021, achieving significant progress ahead of tunnelling commencing in early 2022.
Along the West Gate Freeway, works to widen the freeway from eight to twelve through lanes continues, with the crews recently completing an intensive period of spring construction activities.
Thanks to the patience of drivers using the West Gate Freeway, crews could work around the clock to carry out vital upgrades at Grieve Parade, Williamstown Road and the M80 interchange. Through rebuilding sections of these ramps, the works have strengthened the structures while also improving traffic flow on and off the freeway, with drivers already experiencing the benefits.
Closer to the West Gate Bridge, drivers will notice that the new Hyde Street ramps are shaping up, with concrete beams recently being installed for the citybound ramp. Once complete, the new Hyde Street ramps will provide trucks a direct route from the freeway to the inner-west’s industrial areas.
Towards the CBD, the Project recently marked a construction milestone of the launching gantry starting to build a new 2.5-kilometre elevated road above Footscray Road, with three segments of the future road already in place.
If you’ve driven in the area, you might have noticed that structures to support a new bridge and ramps over the Maribyrnong River are complete. The primary support for the road, known as steel girders, are expected to be lifted into place in early 2022. The new bridge will provide a vital second river crossing for Melbourne, linking the West Gate Tunnel to an elevated road above Footscray Road.
As part of the Project’s works along the West Gate Freeway, crews have been hard at work upgrading the noise walls, with more than two thirds of the concrete panels now installed, providing communities with quieter homes, neighbourhoods, and schools.
Through the West Gate Kids program, the Project inspired more than 1300 students across 12 schools to engage in science, engineering, and construction, with the aim for this school engagement program to continue to expand to more students and more schools in 2022.
As we prepare for the summer blitz campaign and for tunnelling to commence in early 2022, we thank the community and drivers for their continued patience as the Project continues to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure for Melbourne’s west.
