Visitors to the West Gate Tunnel’s new information centre will be able to take a virtual drive through the tunnel via a high tech interactive model and learn more about the congestion busting project.
The West Gate Tunnel Info Centre, to be opened to the public in the next month, will give people a hands-on experience of the new roads and bike paths and public open space being built as part of the project.
At the centre of the experience is a model of the tunnel boring machines (TBM) that will build the twin tunnels under Yarraville to get trucks off local roads and provide an alternative to the West Gate Bridge.
The 50:1 scale model replicates the detailed internal mechanisms of the real TBMs and gives an inside look at the specialised machine that will build the tunnels.
Visitors to the centre will also be able to jump on a bike to take a virtual reality ride along the 2.5 kilometre elevated cycling freeway to be built above Footscray Road.
There’s a touch-screen interactive model for visitors to drive the widened West Gate Freeway, the new tunnel, and connections to CityLink and the CBD.
The West Gate Tunnel Info Centre is located at the tunnelling hub, the project’s biggest construction compound and the heart of major works, at the corner of Whitehall Street and Somerville Road Yarraville.
It will have dedicated community team members on hand to answer questions and show people around.
Construction on the West Gate Tunnel is well underway, with more than 2,000 people already working on the project.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“The West Gate Tunnel Info Centre is a one-stop shop for information about the project, allowing people to understand the massive benefits this project will deliver for the whole community.”
“The West Gate Tunnel will slash congestion and reduce travel times – so it’s vital people understand how it will help them get where they need to be, sooner.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“There is no need to wait for the veloway to be built to experience this Melbourne-first bike path – come down to the Info Centre, put on the VR goggles and go for a spin.” https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/take-a-virtual-drive-through-the-west-gate-tunnel/
