Melbourne’s $10.2 billion West Gate Tunnel has recorded more than one million trips since opening to motorists in mid-December, but new figures show traffic volumes are well below early projections.
Data reveals the tunnel is currently averaging fewer than 22,000 vehicles per day, despite business case forecasts estimating between 55,000 and 67,000 vehicles daily by the early 2030s. Around one-fifth of all trips so far have been made by trucks, which the Victorian government says demonstrates the project is already helping to divert heavy vehicles away from inner-west residential streets.
The government has attributed the slower-than-expected uptake to motorists still “getting used to the route”. The tunnel, operated by Transurban, costs about $4 per trip, rising to around $10 during weekday morning peak periods for vehicles heading into the CBD.
Free travel on weekends throughout January gave motorists a toll-free opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new road, which links the West Gate Freeway to CityLink. The tunnel provides city exits at Footscray Road, Dynon Road and via an extension of Wurrundjeri Way.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said surpassing one million vehicle movements was a significant milestone and predicted traffic volumes would continue to grow as drivers became more comfortable with the new layout.
She said the tunnel was already providing trucks with faster and more reliable access to the Port of Melbourne, cutting travel times, reducing freight costs and supporting Victoria’s supply chains.
Apart from an early issue in December in which some motorists were overcharged and later refunded, the tunnel has operated smoothly. Authorities say some drivers are still adjusting to lane selection when approaching the tunnel or the West Gate Bridge, and have urged motorists to choose their route early when travelling on the M80 or Princes Highway.
Drivers heading to Docklands, the CBD or Melbourne’s northern suburbs are advised to use the left lanes into the tunnel, while express lanes on the right provide access to the West Gate Bridge and the city’s southeast.
