By ashleykaren
The Victorian Government has revealed that tunnel excavation is finished on the twin tunnels, which form a critical part of the West Gate Tunnel project.
The project is anticipated to provide an alternative to the congested West Gate Bridge.
Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s Premier, stated: “We promised we’d build an alternative to the West Gate Bridge to keep our city moving, and we’re getting on with it – creating thousands of jobs and setting our booming western suburbs up for the future.”
He continued: “The West Gate Tunnel Project will slash travel times, take thousands of trucks off local roads, and get families home sooner and safer.”
Tunnel Boring Machine Bella broke through in South Kingsville, finishing a 4km trip from the west side of the Maribyrnong River beneath Yarraville to just east of Millers Road close to the West Gate Freeway.
Jacinta Allan, Victoria’s Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, expressed: “This is a significant breakthrough, completing one of the most challenging parts of the West Gate Tunnel Project – in just a few years’ time, thousands of Victorians will travel through this tunnel each day, transforming Melbourne’s west.”
Since 2022, TBM Bella has worked 24/7, boring enough soil to fill the MCG while installing over 15,000 individual concrete segments to build the tunnel walls.
The momentous milestone comes after tunnel boring machine Vida finished her journey, marking the most extensive tunnel breakthrough to happen in the southern hemisphere.
The giant TBM will be disassembled and extracted piece by piece, with the 450t cutterhead buried on-site, and other components either recycled or returned to the factory.
Teams will carry on the vital work of constructing the road deck and installing electrical, lighting and safety systems to ready both tunnels for completion in 2025.
Above ground, work is ongoing now to build the ventilation system at the outbound portal and ready for the installation of the iconic eel net structure.
Once finished, the West Gate Tunnel Project intends to transform travel in Melbourne’s west. It will provide an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, deliver a second river crossing, and terminate over 9,000 trucks from residential streets.
Journeys will be safer and more trustworthy, with travel times between Melbourne’s west and the city decreased by up to 20 minutes.
In addition, there will be 14km of new and boosted walking and cycling paths and close to 9ha of new parks and wetlands.
