Melbourne’s long-awaited West Gate Tunnel is set to open on Sunday, marking the next stage in reshaping travel across the western suburbs. The Allan Government confirmed the opening date this afternoon, along with the names chosen for the twin tunnels that will carry thousands of vehicles each day.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the project delivers something many communities have waited for. “The West Gate Tunnel saves time for families and workers and only Labor delivered it.” She pointed to the sharp cuts in travel times now expected between the city, the Port of Melbourne and the fast-growing western corridor. “With the West Gate Tunnel, you’ll save up to 20 minutes travelling between the city and Melbourne’s West. Even if you don’t use it, it takes 28,000 cars off the West Gate Bridge so there’s less congestion on your drive.”
The outbound tunnel will be known as the Eureka Tunnel, a nod to the region’s link with workers’ history and a pathway to Ballarat and western Victoria. The inbound tunnel will be named the Bundawanh Tunnel, meaning “he/she dug’’ in the Bunurong language. The name reflects the connection between the Bunurong people and the land underneath which the tunnel runs.
The scale of the new corridor is large by any measure. Drivers will now have access to 17 kilometres of new and upgraded road connections, including ramps, bridges, elevated sections and the widened West Gate Freeway. The project adds a 50 per cent increase to capacity along the corridor and is expected to reduce the load on the West Gate Bridge by 28,000 vehicles a day. Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams said the project’s benefits are clear despite earlier political resistance. “The Liberals tried to stop the West Gate Tunnel and said it was a dud deal.” She added that “only Labor delivers the projects Victorians need to save them time on the road so they can spend more time at home.”
Direct links to the Port of Melbourne sit at the heart of the engineering, with new access via Mackenzie Road, Appleton Dock Road and the Hyde Street ramps. Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said these connections will change how freight moves across the city. “With direct links to the Port of Melbourne and new No-Truck Zones protecting local streets, the West Gate Tunnel makes communities safer, makes our economy more productive, and saves everyone time.”
Seven new truck bans and weekend or night curfews on key local streets will come into effect as the tunnel opens. The Government says the change will remove 9,000 trucks from local roads each day. Member for Footscray Katie Hall said this shift will be felt quickly. “The Westgate Tunnel will take 9,000 trucks off local roads every day.”
The project has been years in the making, with more than 6,000 workers contributing to the construction of the tunnels, the new bridge over the Maribyrnong River and 70 kilometres of new traffic lanes. The network also extends beyond roads. More than 14 kilometres of walking and cycling paths have been added, including the new elevated Dixon Veloway connecting the Federation Trail to the CBD.
Travel conditions on opening day are expected to be busy, and drivers are being advised to plan ahead.
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