Works on the West Gate Tunnel Project have continued throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, with the Project implementing a range of measures to keep workers safe and help stop the spread, all whilst making great progress on the job.
Construction work is classified as an essential service, and West Gate Tunnel Project crews have been careful to adhere to physical distancing requirements, as well as other new measures put in place to protect workers including:
- Encouraging good hygiene practices;
- Restricting travel between different work sites across the 17km project alignment;
- Minimising the use of shared tools and equipment;
- Staggered meal breaks;
- Increasing cleaning and focussing on shared spaces like lunchrooms and meeting rooms.
Peter Sammut, Chief Executive Officer for the West Gate Tunnel Project, Major Transport Infrastructure Authority commended how the project’s workforce has adapted to the unprecedented changes.
“The health and safety of workers and the community is our top priority, and crews across the West Gate Tunnel Project have been quick to respond to the new measures put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus,” says Mr. Sammut.
“A range of strict measures have been implemented to help protect workers and therefore the broader community, whilst still being able to make significant progress across the Project.”
Thousands of workers have now clocked over 16 million hours working on the Project, as works continue to add four extra through lanes to the West Gate Freeway and build new motorway bridges over the Maribyrnong River, and a new elevated road above Footscray Road that will connect the tunnels to the port, the city and CityLink.
There will also be over 14 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths which includes nine new shared use path bridges and a veloway over Footscray Road, making it easier and safer for people to get around. Around nine hectares of new open space will also be created, opening up unused industrial areas for the inner west.
Whilst every effort is made to minimising traffic disruptions, there will be continued major traffic impacts along the West Gate Freeway throughout June as widening works continue.
To this effect, travellers will see some additional works that take advantage of the current lower traffic volumes to complete works earlier and also minimise impacts to nearby residents.
For more information visit https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions/disruptions-map
The project will continue to follow government advice to protect the workforce and the community and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
