Drivers in Melbourne’s west are being told to brace for major delays this weekend as the West Gate Tunnel Project hits a key milestone – the removal of a massive tower crane that’s been central to tunnel construction for the past two years.
Starting 11:59 pm Friday 11 April and running through to 5am Monday 14 April, parts of the West Gate Freeway will be heavily restricted:
Outbound traffic will be reduced to just two lanes between Williamstown Road and Millers Road.
Full overnight closures of outbound lanes are planned for Friday and Sunday nights, so crews can set up and take down a 450-tonne crane that will assist in dismantling the giant structure.
The Williamstown Road outbound entry ramp will also be closed all weekend.
The crane being removed is about 50 metres tall and has helped lift heavy pieces of the tunnel’s ventilation structure into place – including steel frames and cladding.
This work is a major step toward finishing the long-awaited West Gate Tunnel Project, which is expected to wrap up later this year. Over the past few months, crews have been laying fresh road surfaces, installing barriers, and finalising the design for the inbound ex-press lanes.
Once completed, the tunnel will offer a second route across the Yarra River, helping ease pressure on the often-congested West Gate Bridge. The pr-ject is also expected to remove around 9000 trucks a day from local roads, improving traffic flow and safety in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Commuters planning to travel over the weekend have been asked to avoid the West Gate Bridge if possible. Significant delays of up to one hour are expected.