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Work Starts On A Massive Shed For The West Gate Tunnel

26 March 2018

Work is underway to build a huge tunnelling hub in Yarraville to reduce noise and dust during construction of the West Gate Tunnel.

The tunnelling hub shed will be bigger than the Altona Bunnings and will process more than 1.5 million cubic metres of dirt and rock excavated from the tunnels – enough to fill the MCG.

When operational, 500 workers will be employed at the site on the corner of Somerville Road and Whitehall Street.

The tunnelling hub will be connected to the neighbouring northern portal site by an elevated, covered conveyor belt that will transport the dirt and rock from the project’s two tunnel boring machines into the massive shed.

A footbridge will also be built over Somerville Road for workers to easily and safely move between the two sites.

The tunnelling hub is the third major West Gate Tunnel worksite to be established in recent weeks, with crews already working at the neighbouring northern portal site and the widening of the West Gate Freeway.

The start of works comes as the Liberals and the Greens launch another bid to sack the hundreds of workers already working on the West Gate Tunnel project.

The emerging Liberal-Green coalition has given notice that it will make another attempt to use parliament to revoke planning permission for the project – a move repeatedly slammed by industry and community groups.

The Business Council of Australia, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, RACV, the Victorian Transport Association, Urban Development Institute of Australia, G21, the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group and Victorian Legal Aid have all urged the Liberals to get out of the way of this urgently needed project.

More than 800 people are already working on the West Gate Tunnel Project, which will create more than 6000 jobs for Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“The crash on the West Gate Freeway a few weeks ago showed how urgently we need an alternative to the West Gate Bridge – that’s why we’re getting on with this vital project.”

“More than 500 people will be employed on this site alone as two massive tunnel boring machines start digging the West Gate Tunnel – to slash congestion and get trucks off local roads.”

Quotes attributable to Luke Donnellan Minister for Roads

“Bigger than a Bunnings and with facilities for 500 workers, this massive shed will mean less dust and less noise for locals during construction.”

“It’s time for the Liberal-Green coalition to get out of the way of this urgently needed project – while they pull cheap political stunts, we’re getting on with it.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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