The Andrews Labor Government is getting straight to work on the project to take 5000 trucks off the West Gate Bridge every day, calling for expressions of interest to build the first stage of the new West Gate Distributor.
The $500 million West Gate Distributor will take trucks to the Port of Melbourne via a new dedicated road link, easing congestion for city bound traffic from Geelong, Ballarat and the western suburbs.
The West Gate Distributor is part of Project 10,000 – the Labor Government’s plan to reduce road congestion, transform our public transport system and create 10,000 Victorian jobs.
The $40 million first stage of the project includes widening Moreland St, installing a new signalised intersection at Footscray Rd and Moreland St, and widening and strengthening the Shepherd Bridge over the Maribyrnong River to add additional lanes.
The upgrades to Footscray Rd and the Shepherd Bridge will eliminate bottlenecks and increase the flow of traffic and the efficiency of freight. Safe, dedicated lanes for cyclists will also be built.
Over the next 20 years, the number of commercial vehicles travelling on the West Gate Bridge is expected to double and the number of truck visits to the busy Swanson Dock is expected to increase to 12,000 each day.
Expressions of Interest for the first stage open today, with stakeholder and community consultation to commence in February. Shortlisted contractors will take part in a Request for Tenders process in May.
The contract is expected to be awarded mid-year, with construction underway by the end of the year. Planning and investigations are underway for the remaining stages of works.
For more information about the Expression of Interest, please visit the VicRoads website.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’re getting straight to work. This project will remove 5000 trucks a day from the West Gate Bridge.”
“Building the West Gate Distributor and removing 50 of our most dangerous and congested level crossings will make it easier for Victorians to get to work every morning.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan
“This creates more jobs, sends more trucks to the Port and saves more time on the road.”
“With the West Gate Distributor, the morning drive from Ballarat, Geelong and the western suburbs will be faster and safer.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020