More works underway on VIC's massive West Gate Tunnel

Construction on a huge tunnelling hub that will reduce noise and dust during the construction of the massive West Gate Tunnel has commenced in Yarraville.

The large tunnelling shed is going to be bigger than the Altona Bunnings and it is expected to employ up to 500 workers once it is operational. This shed will also be able to process more than 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and dirt that are excavated from the tunnels – which is enough to fill the MCG.

Premier Daniel Andrews said: “More than 500 people will be employed on this site alone as two massive tunnel boring machines start digging the West Gate Tunnel – to slash congestion and get trucks off local roads.”

Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan added: “Bigger than a Bunnings and with facilities for 500 workers, this massive shed will mean less dust and less noise for locals during construction.”

The tunnelling hub in Yarraville is going to be connected to the northern portal by an elevated, covered conveyor belt, which is going to transport excavated material from the two tunnel boring machines (TBM) into the shed.

This project will also include building a foot bridge over Somerville Road for workers to safely and easily move from one hub to the other.

The Yarraville tunnelling hub is the third major work site to be established for the West Gate Tunnel in recent weeks, with works already underway on the neighbouring northern portal as well as the widening of the West Gate Freeway.

The West Gate Tunnel project is expected to create more than 6,000 local jobs, with over 800 people already working on site.

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Source: Premier of Victoria, Roads & Infrastructure Australia