Footscray Rd and Wurundjeri Way reopen

Footscray Rd and Wurundjeri Way have reopened to traffic as part of the step in the West Gate Tunnel Project (WGTP), much to the relief of motorists.

The major thoroughfares reopened on March 8 after closures caused extensive delays within and surrounding Docklands in recent months.

But a busy summer campaign saw multiple works completed, including stage one of a new walking and cycling bridge over Footscray Rd.

The new bridge will ultimately connect to the 2.5km veloway that crews have been building above Footscray Rd between Shepherd Bridge in Footscray and the city side of Moonee Ponds.

According to the WGTP, the veloway will give cyclists a safe express off-road route to and from the city and remove six intersections to make trips safer and quicker.

The new bridge and veloway are part of more than 14km of new and upgraded paths being delivered by the WGTP that will make it safer and easier for more people to cycle.

Work has also been completed on the second stage of the new Wurundjeri Way city bypass that will take up to 5000 vehicles a day off Spencer and King streets.

Other works saw the completion of new bridges and the intersection with Dudley St.

Remaining works on Footscray Rd will be undertaken in overnight closures, with lane closures also over Moonee Ponds Creek while crews continue to widen the bridge to make way for new connections.

From late April there will be additional lane closures on Footscray Rd while crews build the new veloway.

Overnight closures will occur on Wurundjeri Way as crews continue works to widen the link by one lane in each direction between Dudley St and Flinders St.

WGTP executive project director Peter Lellyett said the summer campaign saw vital works completed but added “there’s still plenty to be done on this vital project that will slash travel times between Melbourne’s west and the city”.

“We are getting on with completing an extension of Wurundjeri Way over Dudley St, creating a city bypass and reducing the number of vehicles on Spencer and King streets,” he said.

“We thank the community for their continued patience as we get on with remaining works”.

The WGTP is expected to be completed in 2025, providing an alternative to the West Gate Bridge and removing more than 9000 trucks from residential streets. Travel times between Melbourne’s west and the city are tipped to be slashed by up to 20 minutes. •