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Works underway on Footscray Road section of VIC's West Gate Tunnel project

Written by Monica Gameng | Sep 13, 2018 2:00:00 PM

Construction is now underway on the Footscray Road upgrade in Victoria that will link the West Gate Tunnel to the Port of Melbourne, the CBD as well as CityLink.

Currently, workers are shifting the road to the south to give way to construction that will commence to the north of the road. The bike path along Footscray Road will also be moved closer to the port to create more space for major construction activities.

“There’ll be around 1,000 workers across the five Footscray Road sites for the West Gate Tunnel works - Victorians working hard to build better and safer road and cycling connections from Melbourne’s west to the city.

“The West Gate Tunnel will mean easier access to education, hospitals and jobs for people right across the western suburbs,” Member for Footscray Marsha Thomson said.

West Gate Tunnel project map (source: West Gate Tunnel Project)

This upgrade will include the construction of a new elevated roadway along Footscray Road, which will join the new bridges that will go over the Maribyrnong River to provide a second river crossing for motorists.

The project will also include a 2.5-kilometre state-of-the-art cycling freeway or ‘veloway’ that will be suspended under the new road to provide cyclists with a safe express route between Melbourne’s west and the city as well as create a continuous journey from Werribee to the city.

“We’re building a dedicated freight route to the Port of Melbourne that will take more than 9,000 trucks off local roads in the inner west.

“This section of the project will reduce congestion for people travelling into the city and give cyclists a safer, fully off-road route all the way from Werribee to the CBD,” Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan said.

Footscray Road section of the West Gate Tunnel project (source: West Gate Tunnel Project)

Major construction activities along Footscray Road are going to be done in stages to allow works to be carried out safely along the route while maintaining access for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

Work on the new elevated roadway is expected to commence in 2019.

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Source: Premier of Victoria; West Gate Tunnel Project