I am writing to provide an update on the Western Distributor project – which is now called the West Gate Tunnel project.
Below is some information for you to review and to pass on to Bay West BUG members. If you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss the project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
After two years of intensive community and stakeholder engagement, technical investigations and design development, we are excited to inform you that a design for the West Gate Tunnel Project has been selected. This design will be assessed through the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process.
We’re also pleased to let you know that after a rigorous and competitive tender process, a constructor for the project has been selected – the CPB Contractor John Holland Joint Venture.
Engagement with community and stakeholders has given us a great understanding of the local expectations and challenges for the project and in response we’ve developed a design with better connections, less community impacts, more walking and cycling paths and new green spaces.
We’re releasing the design now so people have the time and the opportunity to understand it in detail, including any changes, ahead of the EES being released mid-2017.
Over the next month, the project team will be holding a number of information sessions throughout the project area where people can view the design, ask questions and speak with specialists. We would love to see you there and encourage you to come along. The dates and times are available on our website.
Please find an overview of the design attached. There is also detailed information including an interactive map on our website which includes 3D visuals and design details. Visit www.westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au.
Key design updates include:
- a longer tunnel which keeps the Westbound exit within the West Gate Freeway but further away from existing homes
- an improved city access design with simplified connections and two fewer crossings of the Moonee Ponds Creek
- over 14 km of new and upgraded cycling and walking paths – including a 2.5 km veloway above Footscray Road
- improved pedestrian and cycling connections between communities along the West Gate Freeway
- nearly 9 ha, the equivalent of almost four MCGs, of new community open space including parkland and wetlands and more than 17,000 trees planted
- world-class architecture, urban and landscape design that celebrates the Aboriginal heritage and maritime history of Melbourne’s west
- high-quality noise walls designed with residents in mind to reduce noise and protect privacy while allowing natural light.
Walking and cycling – 14 km of new and upgraded paths
The project will vastly improve Melbourne’s western cycling network with over 14 kilometres of new and upgraded cycling and walking paths providing quicker, safer and better connections. New and upgraded facilities include:
- completion of the Federation Trail to create a continuous journey from Werribee to the city
- a Melbourne-first – 2.5km express veloway, suspended under the viaduct along Footscray Road, gives commuter cyclists a much needed safe, accessible and ‘express’ route to and from the city that is completely separated from traffic
- new paths and links will better connect communities north and south of the West Gate Freeway, with better bridges over the freeway; wider, well-lit paths under the freeway at Millers Road and Williamstown Road; and new north-south connections at Hall Street (Spotswood) and Kororoit Creek.
- new links to and around parks and waterways, including at Kororoit Creek, Stony Creek, Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek.
More information is attached.
Walking and cycling fact sheet
West Gate Tunnel community session April 2017
Design overview fact sheet
What happens next?
The West Gate Tunnel Project will be assessed through an Environment Effects Statement process. This process was most recently used to assess the Melbourne Metro Rail project. This is a well-established process and the most comprehensive and transparent way for a project’s impacts to be considered.
There will be the opportunity to view the EES and get involved when it is publicly exhibited in mid-2017, and formal feedback will be considered by an independent Inquiry Panel and public hearing.
Further information about the EES for the project, including what information will contain, is on the project website.
For more information about the Victorian Government’s EES process, please visit the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website at delwp.vic.gov.au.
We’re touring the west – come and talk with us
We’re holding information sessions along the project corridor so that people can drop-in, meet the project team and speak with the specialists to learn more about the design and the next steps. The dates and times are attached to this email and are also available on our website.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email, if you have any questions please get in touch with me.
Kind regards,
Sarah
……………………………………………………………
Sarah Altmann
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
West Gate Tunnel Project
*available Tue-Fri*
Mobile: +61 405 927 060
Email: saltman@transurban.com
