The construction of an extra M80 entry ramp as part of Melbourne’s West Gate Tunnel Project is expected to add up to 45 minutes of delays to commuters over the next two weeks.
The works on the M80 Ring Road to the West Gate Freeway citybound commenced at 9pm on Friday, September 6 and continue until 5am on Monday, September 23.
Motorists are advised to detour via Boundary Road, Little Boundary Road and Grieve Parade, or can take a later detour by making a U-turn at Kororoit Creek Road along the Princes Freeway.
The significant expected delays mean motorists are being asked to account for an extra 45 minutes of travel time.
The addition to the entry ramp is the latest step in works to expand the West Gate Freeway from eight to 12 lanes.
“Widening the West Gate Freeway from eight to 12 through lanes is a key part of the West Gate Tunnel Project that will ease congestion and cut travel times for Victoria’s growing population,” says Victorian minister for infrastructure and transport Danny Pearson.
“After this two-week ramp closure, and extra lane will open to traffic heading from the M80 Ring Road to the West Gate Freeway.”
This impending road closure precedes further closures as part of the project, including the closure of the West Gate Freeway Williamstown Road citybound exit ramp from October until mid-November.
A section of Footscray Road eastbound will also be closed for most of October.
The West Gate Tunnel Project is expected to remove 9000 trucks from local roads per day when completed. It was initially expected to be completed in September 2022, but delays have pushed it back to 2025 and reportedly up to $4 billion over-budget.
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