West Gate Tunnel Project

The West Gate Tunnel Project (WGTP) will upgrade / widen the West Gate Freeway and link to CityLink at Docklands via a tunnel beneath Yarraville. It aims to relieve M1 congestion, provide an alternative river crossing to the Bridge and move trucks away from inner west homes. Major construction commenced in early 2018 following the Minister for Planning's approval of the Environmental Effects Statement (EES), expected completion is 2025.

The WGTP includes:

• upgrade / widening of the West Gate Freeway by two lanes in each direction between Williamstown Road and M80 interchange
• twin tunnels under Yarraville between the West Gate Freeway and the Maribyrnong River, a 4km-long outbound tunnel and 2.8km-long citybound tunnel
• ventilation structures at each tunnel exit to remove air from inside the tunnels
• a new bridge over the Maribyrnong River with twin viaducts above Footscray Road and connections to the Port of Melbourne, CityLink, Dynon Road and extension of Wurundjeri Way to Dynon Road
• over 14km of new and upgraded cycling and walking paths - including a 2.5km veloway above Footscray Road
• nearly 9 ha of new community open space including parkland and wetlands and more than 17,000 trees planted
• better access to the port for trucks, allowing them to avoid taking residential roads
• 9km of new and improved noise walls
• two improved, safer pedestrian bridges at Muir Street and Rosala Avenue
• enhancing waterway environments – new wetlands will be used to treat stormwater and new plantings to rehabilitate creek banks and develop animal habitats
• landscaping along Maribyrnong River and Kororoit, Stony and Moonee Ponds creeks
• $10 million in funding to community-led projects and organisations through the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund

WGTP works are well advanced along the West Gate Freeway section including building two new ramps to connect trucks directly to local industry and get them off local roads. The ramp on the northern side of the freeway will provide a new exit ramp for inbound traffic from the West Gate Freeway to a new signalised intersection at Hyde Street. The ramp on the southern side of the freeway will provide a new entry ramp for westbound traffic from a new intersection at Simcock Avenue and Stephen Street through to the West Gate Freeway. 

For the latest updates and detour information visit West Gate Tunnel Disruptions Page

You can subscribe to WGTP get weekly updates email or facebook  

WGTP Thanks you for your patience as important works are carried out. For more info check out the Big Build Disruptions page.

                              Other WGTP Latest news can be found at:

• Tunnel Tracker

Upcoming local events supported by West Gate Neighbourhood Fund

• Deakin Arts Festival
• • April 5 -Scienceworks opening event launch, sculptures, sounds and more
  • April 15 and 16  - James Nguyen’s 24 hour event, across assorted locations in Brooklyn beginning at Altona Gate
  • Event details www.treatment3.org.au
    
    

• Slow Food Farmers’ Market - Urban harvest website launch
• • Saturday 25 March (at the market)
  • 63 The Avenue Spotswood, 10am
  • Light refreshments will be served so please RSVP to slowfoodwestside@gmail.com

Slow Food | Slow Food Melbourne

The $10 million West Gate Neighbourhood Fund launched in November 2019 to support inner west communities during tunnel construction. It prioritises those most affected and ensures that the benefits to the local community start now. 

There have been three rounds of funding and the last Partnership Round will open by mid-2023.

This provides funding for larger projects seeking over $100,000 that:

• deliver lasting benefits
• assist organisations to implement community infrastructure and capital equipment programs the improve community connections

More details can be found at Victoria’s Big Build

Successful Grants from Round 2

There were 22 successful Round 2 community grants across Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong with a total value of $499,765. 12 are in Hobsons Bay, totaling $314,072. 

A brief description of the 12 successful applications within Hobsons Bay follows:

• The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre (HBWC) will hold an Open Day in October 2023 for World Mental Health Day - $20,000
• Edge to Edge Laverton is Western Edge’s Community Youth Theatre performance 2023 series. Stronger Together - $20,000
• Rotary Club of Williamstown and Dads of Newport & Newport Scouts will host a 2023 Halloween Party in the Park - $12,436
• Wynspeak Hobsons Bay 2023 will host a Youth Public Speaking Competition - $2,200
• Association Islamic Dakwah in Australia will buy four table tennis tables to provide social recreational activity and improve community connectedness - $5,678
• Altona Miniature Railway will buy new passenger carriages to enable more miniature train rides for the community - $10,000
• Melbourne City soccer club will provide a Junior Female Football Initiative - $9,500
• U3A Altona will purchase new classroom equipment, a smart TV and laptop on a mobile stand - $3,940
• Brooklyn Residents Action Group will install artwork along the Kororoit Creek shared trail - $98,400
• Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek will revitalise the 1880’s heritage listed unique blue stone bridge - $86,100
• Williamstown Community and Education Centre (WCEC) will establish a new computer training room at Altona North Community House (ANCH) - $23,810
• Friends of Newport Lakes received funds for water quality monitoring equipment & training volunteers to report water quality and a small native flowering program - $22,008

• All of these grants will be administered by Westgate Neighbourhood Fund and their team will answer all of your queries.  

A CLG has been established by WGTP MTIA as an avenue for community involvement during the construction/delivery phase of the West Gate Tunnel Project to contribute to the WGTP by:

•             encouraging a broad range of community representatives from geographic areas to participate in discussions for the project

•             providing a regular and direct avenue of communication between local communities and the project team to understand what is happening during construction

•             providing a local perspective particularly in relation to minimising impacts on local communities

•             allowing stakeholders to appreciate each other’s views to the benefit of the project

•             sharing local information, and helping support community engagement activities relating to the project

Further information and local CLG member representatives can be found at here

Following the release of the Minister's assessment, the Victorian Government partnered with HBCC Council to fund capital improvements to its recreation reserves and facilities up to the value of $5 million on appropriate projects.

In February 2018, Council endorsed a Sports and Open Space Enhancement and Access Capital Improvement Program for the following areas:

•             Brooklyn

•             Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood

•             WLJ Crofts Reserve, Altona North

In response to the WGTP and possible transport impacts on Hobsons Bay, the Department of Transport (DoT), in partnership with Council, led the HBTPS to identify transport impacts and issues and to develop a network challenges and opportunities report. In addition, Council has developed Local Area Movement Plans (LAMPs) for Brooklyn, Altona North, Spotswood, South Kingsville and Williamstown North, consistent with the objectives of the HBTPS and Council’s Integrated Transport Plan.

The WGTP provides monthly air quality monitoring reports on the Project website.

The Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group (CRG), established by the Victorian Government as an outcome of the WGTP EES to investigate air pollution in Melbourne’s inner west, has released its report – Air Pollution in Melbourne’s Inner West – Taking direct action to reduce our community’s exposure with 26 recommendations and 65 supporting actions designed to:

• reduce air pollution from road transport and industry (including the West Gate Tunnel Project)
• improve the planning framework, government regulation and policy, air quality monitoring and community education

The report can be found at: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/documents/council/current-projects/victorian-government-major-projects/20200907-iwaqcrgreportfinal.pdf