The Environment Effects Statement (EES), EPA Works Approval application and draft Planning Scheme Amendment for the West Gate Tunnel Project are on public exhibition and open to comment. Click here for making a submission before 5pm on Monday 10 July 2017.

The West Gate Tunnel Project is a proposed tunnel and elevated motorway that will connect the West Gate Freeway with the Port of Melbourne, CityLink and the CBD. It will provide an alternative river crossing and ease pressure on the West Gate Bridge.

The key design aspects of the tunnels component of the project include:

• Connecting the West Gate Freeway to the port precinct and the western periphery of the central city via twin tunnels under Yarraville, with a length of around 4 km (westbound) and 2.8 km (eastbound).
• Southern tunnel portals located within the West Gate Freeway to the west of Williamstown Road (eastbound) and to the west of the Newport Freight Railway Line (westbound).
• Northern tunnel portal located to the east of the intersection of Whitehall Street and Harris Street.
• Capacity for each tunnel to cater for three lanes of traffic.
• Cross passages between the tunnels around every 120 metres to meet safety and operational requirements.
• Ventilation systems for each tunnel (including a series of jet fans for in-tunnel air quality management) and a ventilation facility located near the exit of each tunnel for controlled release and effective dispersion of tunnel air. These ventilation structures would be an average of approximately 45 metres high, enclosed with an architecturally clad exterior that varies from approximately 40 metres to 55 metres high.
• An Automatic Incident Detection (AID) system to identify traffic incidents in the tunnel, tunnel management systems to allow speed limits to be varied and variable message signs to alert tunnel users of incidents.
• Other above ground buildings, including electrical substations located at the northern and southern (westbound) portals to provide power to the tunnels to operate the management systems, and a control centre for the operation of the freeway and maintenance building at the northern portal.
• Exclusion of over-dimensional vehicles and placard loads, including signage and alarm systems. Over-dimensional and placard loads would gain access to the Port of Melbourne via the new Hyde Street ramps.

Two custom-made TBMs will be used to build the tunnel, shifting more than 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and soil. Innovative construction methods will minimise disruptions on the West Gate Freeway and Footscray Road, maintaining all lanes during peak periods throughout construction.

For further information on the project click here, for tunnelbuilder archive click here and au/35. Visit http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/have-your-say-on-the-west-gate-tunnel/ and https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/panels-and-committees/current-panels/west-gate-tunnel. 26/17.