MELBOURNE: Wurundjeri Way extension to open
Melbourne’s first CBD bypass in 25 years, the new Wurundjeri Way extension, is set to open this month.
Gabrielle Williams (pictjured), Transport Infrastructure Minister, announced the new road will open to traffic on Monday, October 27 – giving more options to move around the city before the West Gate Tunnel opens later this year.
The new Wurundjeri Way extension will link Dynon Rd at West Melbourne to Wurundjeri Way at Docklands, reducing the number of cars needing to rely on Spencer and King Sts.
It will also have the capacity to carry more than 10,000 vehicles a day on opening, increasing to around 15,000 when the tunnels and elevated Footscray Rd open – improving connections across Melbourne’s inner west, the CBD, Docklands, South Melbourne and beyond.
Since construction began, crews have built a new bridge over Dudley St and a 1.5-kilometre, four-lane connection to Dynon Rd. Wurundjeri Way has been widened to six lanes between Dudley St and Flinders St to increase capacity.
The Wurundjeri Way extension will give motorists another way to travel to events at Marvel Stadium and will also cater for the busy Docklands precinct where more than 73,000 people work and some 17,500 people call home.
It will allow people to travel seamlessly to the West Gate Tunnel when it opens later this year – delivering a smoother journey to the west, including Werribee, Geelong and the Surf Coast.
“The Wurundjeri Way extension is Melbourne’s first new city bypass in 25 years – and it’s set to give drivers more choice, better connect the west, and take pressure off some of the CBD’s busiest streetsm,” said Ms Williams
Roads Minister Melissa Horne said: “Next month we’ll see the Wurundjeri Way extension give more options to motorists travelling across Melbourne’s west and the city.”
Footscray MLA Katie Hall said: “Melbourne’s newest CBD bypass will give thousands of drivers in Melbourne’s west more reliable and direct journeys, with less time in the car and more time doing the things they love.”