Skip to main content

Victorian Government to fund second river crossing

The Victorian Government in Australia is to provide the full funding for the Western Distributor Project, a second river crossing which includes the Monash Freeway Upgrade and upgrades to Webb Dock, after the Federal Government rejected a request for a contribution to the funding. Construction of the US$4.2 billion (AU$5.5 billion) Western Distributor will start in 2017, local motorists paying for the rest of it with tolls extended until 2045. The Government and Transurban in Australia have now signed
April 18, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Victorian Government in Australia is to provide the full funding for the Western Distributor Project, a second river crossing which includes the Monash Freeway Upgrade and upgrades to Webb Dock, after the Federal Government rejected a request for a contribution to the funding.

Construction of the US$4.2 billion (AU$5.5 billion) Western Distributor will start in 2017, local motorists paying for the rest of it with tolls extended until 2045.

The Government and Transurban in Australia have now signed an agreement on processes for the tender, planning and engagement stages and announced the establishment of the Western Distributor Authority to get the project completed.

They have also released the first full designs which include two options for connecting the West Gate Freeway to the Western Distributor Tunnel, either directly within the road reserve, or via ramps to a portal in adjacent land.

Key features include: a tunnel under Yarraville and a second river crossing over the Maribyrnong; the longest managed motorway system in Australia from Geelong to Pakenham; 4.5km of new cycling and pedestrian paths including completion of the Federation Trail; Widening the Monash Freeway in two places.

To get dangerous goods trucks, which can’t travel in a tunnel, out of residential streets, the designs include five ramp options to connect the West Gate Freeway directly to Hyde Street.

Related Content

  • May 13, 2016
    Kapsch awarded Toowoomba Second Range Crossing in Queensland
    Kapsch TrafficCom subsidiary Kapsch TrafficCom Australia is to deliver the roadside tolling system for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) Project in Queensland, Australia. The contract, awarded by the State of Queensland, comprises supply and operation for 10 years of the roadside system for TSRC and is valued at around US$6.6 million (€6 million). Kapsch will deliver its latest tolling technology based on the company’s single gantry multi-lane free-flow platform and next-generation vision te
  • April 22, 2022
    Earth Day: animal traffic management
    Caltrans has been involved in animal crossing bridge over freeway in Santa Monica Mountains
  • August 4, 2014
    Siemens wins major UK orders
    Siemens has been successful in winning major orders in Somerset and Wales in the UK. A significant order has been placed by Carillion on behalf of Somerset County Council for a range of ELV traffic control equipment required for a new road under construction in Taunton.
  • February 7, 2025
    Emovis puts Elizabeth River Crossings free-flow toll into action
    Old tolling system will be decommissioned after implementation in Virginia