WestLink - West Gate Bridge Alternative
| Timeframe: | Medium term
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| Cost: | More than $2.5 billion | | |
What's happening
Planning is about to start on a major road connection linking the Port of Melbourne to the Western Ring Road. The $10 million study is the first major step in the WestLink project.
The planning study will also consider upgrades to Sunshine Road, Dempster Street and Paramount Road and a longer-term road connection between the tunnel in West Footscray and the Western Ring Road in Sunshine West.
Read the media release.
Project description
The Government has identified a need for a second major river crossing to reduce the over reliance on the West Gate Bridge.
It is anticipated this crossing will take the form of a three kilometre road tunnel under Footscray and the Maribyrnong River.
The road tunnel would link Dynon/Footscray Roads in the Port precinct to Geelong/Sunshine Roads in West Footscray.
This project also includes stage two of the Truck Action Plan, which will involve an upgrade of Sunshine Road, Dempster Street and Paramount Road. The project will be managed by Linking Melbourne Authority.
Detailed engineering investigations and community consultation will be undertaken before determining a final route alignment and design for the road connection.
This project has been submitted to the Commonwealth Government for funding consideration.
Project benefits
- The project will reduce pressure on the West Gate Bridge which currently carries around 160,000 vehicles per day with that number set to grow to more than 235,000 in 2036.
- With freight volumes expected to increase significantly in the next 20 years, the new road tunnel will improve connectivity to and from Australia's largest container port – the Port of Melbourne.
- Together with the Victorian Government's Truck Action Plan, the new road tunnel will significantly reduce the number of trucks using residential streets in Melbourne's inner-west.
More information
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