Faster commute, more reliable travel

WESTERN DISTRIBUTOR

Benefits for Geelong and
Melbourne’s west

Faster commute, more reliable travel

The Western Distributor will cut travel times for Geelong and western suburbs commuters. It provides an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, and will boost jobs and economic development in Geelong and the west.

Background

The M1, including the West Gate Bridge, is the critical transport link between Geelong and Melbourne. The bridge carries more than 200,000 vehicles a day, providing access for people in the Geelong region and growing suburbs like Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee.

Geelong is home to more than 15,000 businesses supporting a workforce of more than 100,000 people.

The Western Distributor will provide a better, faster, safer and more reliable route between Melbourne and Geelong, supporting the region’s long term economic growth.

The current bumper-to-bumper traffic on the West Gate Freeway will be relieved by increased capacity.

Benefits for Geelong and the western suburbs

The Western Distributor will:

reduce travel time from Geelong to CityLink by up to 20 minutes a day on a return trip

boost jobs and economic development in Geelong and the west

improve travel time reliability and safety

provide a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge

take 22,000 vehicles off the West Gate Bridge, including up to 6,000 trucks

serve the travel needs of a growing regional population

improve the movement of freight across Melbourne and Victoria

What is the Western Distributor?

Widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes from the M80 to Williamstown Road

Smart technology adding to the M1 managed motorway from Werribee to Pakenham

A new road and tunnel under Yarraville branching from the West Gate Freeway at Williamstown Road, providing access to the Yarraville industrial precinct

A bridge over the Maribyrnong River joining the tunnel to an elevated road along Footscray Road

Improved access to the Port of Melbourne

An eastern interchange connecting to CityLink

What happens next?

Work has begun on access improvements for Webb Dock, the Monash Freeway Upgrade will start construction in 2016, construction on the Western Distributor begins in early 2018, and the full project will be completed by 2022.

More information

WEB economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/western-distributor
EMAIL western [e-mail]
CALL 1800 817 687
OFFICE 1 Spring Street Melbourne VIC 3000

For languages other than English, please call 1800 817 687