Daily London
The West Gate Tunnel in Melbourne is finally open after years of delay, promising to take trucks off local roads and to slash morning commutes.
The $10.2 billion project is designed to ease traffic congestion in the western suburbs of Melbourne and offer an alternative to the West Gate Bridge.
The first trips in the tunnel took place in the early hours of the morning as a fleet of Transurban cars drove through to mark its opening.
It is a toll road, with cars having to pay about $4 for a one-way trip, whilst trucks could pay up to $20 for a round trip in the tunnel.
Travel time from the western suburbs into Melbourne could be slashed by 15-20 minutes if commuters use the tunnel.
Government figures also claim about 9000 trucks will be taken off suburban roads due to the tunnel’s opening, helping communities such as Williamstown and Yarraville.
“The West Gate Tunnel gives people real choice – the bridge or the tunnel – saving families time and reshaping travel across the west,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.
The tunnel was initially proposed by the previous Premier Daniel Andrews, with a proposed opening date of 2022.
However, it was hit with numerous delays, including the presence of toxic PFAS chemicals in the ground, which had to be dug up and disposed of safely.
The project is another major transport change in Melbourne, with the West Gate Tunnel opening to drivers just weeks after the opening of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel, a significant upgrade to the city’s rail network.
