A monumental $10.2 billion infrastructure project is set to transform local commutes by removing over 9,000 trucks from congested roads and potentially shaving up to 20 minutes off drivers’ travel time. This ambitious undertaking will officially open its lanes to drivers this Sunday.
Conceived through a collaboration between the state government and the tolling enterprise Transurban, these twin tunnels are designed to offer a much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge for those traversing the Yarra River. The initiative stands as a significant effort to ease traffic woes in the region.
However, this extensive project has not been without its setbacks. It has drawn criticism for exceeding its budget by a staggering $5 billion and for being completed more than three years behind schedule. Such delays and cost overruns have become a point of contention among taxpayers.
The vision for the project was initially introduced to Victorians by the former Premier, Daniel Andrews, during the 2014 election campaign. In what was a strategic move, the project was reintroduced six months later with an estimated cost of $5.5 billion. At that time, the Victorian government outlined a funding plan where Transurban would cover two-thirds of the costs, while the remaining funds were to be sourced from the Commonwealth.
Six months later, the project was reannounced with a $5.5 billion price tag.
Victoria’s then premier said Transurban would pay for two-thirds of that and asked the Commonwealth to fund the rest.
They said no in 2016, but Labor signed the deal in 2017 with an inflated $6.7 billion cost.
In 2019, Victoria’s Parliamentary Budget Office estimated the deal would net Transurban an additional $37 billion dollars in tolls – mostly from CityLink.
Later that year, it was revealed Treasurer Tim Pallas had shares in Transurban at the time he signed the deal.
Construction grounded to a halt in 2019 after toxic chemicals were found.
Work restarted two years later, but only after Victorians chipped in another $2 billion to help cover a $4 billion blowout.
The project will be open from the morning of Sunday December 14.
Tolls will be waved for motorists on the tunnel on weekends throughout January to celebrates its launch.
