At the Victorian Transport Association’s (VTA) annual Ministerial Breakfast yesterday, (June 4) freight and logistics leaders, government officials, and industry stakeholders were welcomed to discuss the West Gate Tunnel Project, set to open later this year.
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Supported by Transurban and held at Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor, the event featured a keynote address from Victorian minister for roads and road Safety, ports and freight, Melissa Horne, remarks from Transurban Group executive of operations David Clements and VTA CEO Peter Anderson.
“The West Gate Tunnel is a pivotal advancement for transport operators in and around the Port of Melbourne,” Anderson says.
“It’s a vital piece of infrastructure that will deliver real productivity gains and help us meet the growing freight demands of our economy.”
Horne says this project will reshape the inner west and industry.
“It will bring double-digit improvements in productivity that in many cases will completely transform your businesses. The ability to transport four 20-foot containers at their maximum mass from places like Altona and Derrimut to the Port of Melbourne in half the time it takes today will be a game changer,” she says.
Key freight productivity improvements outlined by the Minister include:
- Up to 13 minutes in travel-time savings between the west and the Port of Melbourne.
- Bypassing up to 17 sets of traffic lights, significantly reducing delays.
- 50 per cent increase in road capacity on the West Gate Freeway from the M80 interchange.
- Express lanes from the M80 to the West Gate Bridge to streamline freight movement.
- Load capacity upgrades to accommodate high-productivity freight vehicles (HPFVs) up to 110 tonnes gross on the West Gate Freeway, and 160 tonnes gross in the tunnel and on key connecting roads.
Clements reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the freight industry through infrastructure innovation.
“Our roads don’t just move people – they are the arteries of commerce, ensuring that goods get where they need to go, safely and reliably. Supporting the freight network has always been important to us, because we understand just how critical what you do is to the economy, businesses and communities,” he says.
Clements also highlighted how ready Transurban is to support the industry as the tunnel nears completion.
Lastly, Anderson calls for continued reform across the transport sector, urging statutory bodies to work more closely with industry.
“We must close the gap between regulation and reality,” he says.
“A modernised Heavy Vehicle National Law must prioritise risk-based regulations, efficiency, and flexibility for operators.”
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