West Gate Tunnel is now complete and open to traffic

One of Victoria’s largest and most complex road projects is now complete and open to traffic. West Gate Tunnel will not only reduce congestion, but it will also save travel time for families and remove 9,000 trucks from local roads each day. 

The city-shaping project will now provide faster, safer and more reliable journeys across the western suburbs. 

Built as an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, drivers now have another river crossing for the first time in almost 50 years, with new twin tunnels connecting the West Gate Freeway to Docklands, North Melbourne and CityLink. 

With West Gate Tunnel now open, people in Melbourne’s west finally have the choice to choose between using the tunnel or the bridge – transforming the way thousands of motorists move every day. 

Drivers can continue using the West Gate Bridge for free or pay a toll and use the West Gate Tunnel. 

In January 2026, drivers will be able to use the tunnel for free on Saturdays and Sundays to celebrate the opening of this iconic infrastructure. More information can be found on the Transurban website. 

“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. 

Tens of thousands of vehicles are projected to use the new river crossing every day in the future, and this will help alleviate peak hour congestion on the West Gate Freeway as well as reduce traffic on the existing West Gate Bridge. 

As traffic flows change with the opening of the new tunnel, roads and ramps, and new signage to follow, drivers are advised to be patient and plan ahead – traffic conditions are expected to take time to settle. 

Explore and find the best route and travel options with West Gate Tunnel here. 

In addition, 24/7 No-Truck Zones on key local roads are introduced along with new curfews on Williamstown Road to remove thousands of trucks from residential streets and improve safety for locals. 

West Gate Tunnel also provides direct in-and-out access to the Port of Melbourne via Mackenzie Road, Appleton Dock Road and Hyde Street. This will allow trucks to bypass up to 17 sets of traffic lights and move freight more efficiently. 

“This will change the way people travel across the west – giving commuters faster safer and more reliable trips,” Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said. 

Names have also been selected for the tunnels. The 4-kilometre tunnel is now known as the Eureka Tunnel, which symbolises the Australian worker and part of the new gateway to Ballarat and western Victoria the West Gate Tunnel will create. 

Meanwhile, the 2.8-kilometre citybound tunnel is now called the Bundawanh Tunnel, which means “she dug” in the language of the Bunurong people, the traditional owners of the land. This name was drawn from the Boonwurrung language phrase “Bundawanh Kananha” that translates to “she dug with a digging stick”. 

The naming of these tunnels highlights the project’s recognition of history, culture, and community while also celebrating the thousands of Victorians who contributed to the design and construction of the tunnels. 

Alongside the tunnels, the new 2.5-kilometre elevated Dixon Veloway is now open and the final links of the Federation Trail are completed, forming more than 14 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths that will transform active travel in the west. 

The new veloway is named Dixon Veloway as a tribute to Australian Hall of Famer and Victorian cycling legend, the late Iris Dixon. 

“Only Labor delivers the projects that help working families get to where they need to go,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams said. 

The delivery of West Gate Tunnel was made possible with the help of more than 6,000 workers – including 62 million hours on site, 1.8 million hours by trainees, apprentices and cadets. 

This massive transport infrastructure development is a partnership between the Victorian Government and Transurban, with construction undertaken by a joint venture between CPB Contractors and John Holland. 

Felix is the chosen procurement platform for West Gate Tunnel Project, and you can read more about our project case study here. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build – West Gate Tunnel Project (1, 2, 3); Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Magazine