East-West road connection
Encyclopedia
The East-West road connection is a proposed 18 kilometres long freeway standard road link in Melbourne
, Australia
, to run from the western suburbs to the Eastern Freeway. It was proposed in the 2008 East-West Link Needs Assessment (EWLNA) report by Sir Rod Eddington
, but similar ideas have been proposed at various times. In May 2010 a submission to the Rudd government said that benefits from the road would total $1.14 billion, only one third of the $3.5 billion construction cost estimated in October 2008. By 2010 the estimated construction cost had increased to $5 billion.
The proposed freeway standard road would start at a junction with the West Gate Freeway
near Wellington Road. Heading north-east with an interchange at Hyde Street passing through Yarraville and Footscray over the Maribyrnong River with an interchange at Footscray Road and Dynon Road near Kensington Road, then a tunnel adjacent to Kensington Road to CityLink
in Parkville. From Citylink in Parkville a tunnel under Royal Park, Cemetery Road and Alexandra Parade to join the Eastern Freeway. There will also be a tunnel connecting Geelong Road and Sunshine Road under Buckley Street, Footscray Road and the Maribyrnong River to a new interchange in the port area connecting to Footscray and Dynon Roads.
(a) Construction of tunnels connecting Geelong Road and Sunshine Road to the Port of Melbourne
area, running under Footscray Road and the Maribyrnong River
along the alignment of Buckley Street, with a new interchange in the port area connecting Footscray Road and Dynon Road.
(b) Construction of an elevated road over the Maribyrnong River connecting to the West Gate Freeway
near Williamstown Road to Footscray and Dynon Roads. The new road would also include a connection to Hyde Street, providing a new route for truck access into the port and allowing the extension of truck bans in Footscray and Yarraville.
Estimated cost: $2 billion.
This section would require a mix bored tunnel and cut-and-cover construction, in order to traverse the developed inner city areas of North Melbourne and Kensington. From the port interchange, the route would follow a north-east alignment adjacent to Kensington Road, with J.J. Holland Park required as a staging point for deep tunnelling (to be fully restored at the end of construction). Tunnels in this section are likely to be two or three lanes in each direction.
Estimated cost: $5.5 billion.
There is contention with respect to whether J.J. Holland park will be left open or not.
Regardless of which option is chosen, the Eddington Report suggests JJ Holland Park will not be available for public use for a period of 5–8 years. It is this aspect of the proposal which most concerns the residents of Kensington and the Kensington Flemington Junior Sports Club. Concerned residents have set up a website www.savehollandpark.org.au to fight the proposal.
The Alignment for this section would follow a route under Royal Park, Cemetery Road, Princes Street and Alexander Pde. At the western end, the tunnels would diverge to provide long, two-lane connections to CityLink
for northbound traffic. No southerly connection to CityLink
. The Eastern Freeway would also be widened to allow the lane configuration necessary for traffic to enter the tunnel or exit to Hoddle Street and Alexander Parade. Westerly ramps would be included near Hoddle Street and Queens Parade to facilitate local access. This section would provide three lanes in each direction.
Estimated cost: $1.5 billion.
Currently, the following city councils are opposed to the building of the tunnel:
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, to run from the western suburbs to the Eastern Freeway. It was proposed in the 2008 East-West Link Needs Assessment (EWLNA) report by Sir Rod Eddington
Rod Eddington
Sir Roderick Ian Eddington is an Australian businessman. He is currently chair of the government body Infrastructure Australia, a director of News Corporation, continuing his long association with that company, and has served in other senior positions including as former CEO of British...
, but similar ideas have been proposed at various times. In May 2010 a submission to the Rudd government said that benefits from the road would total $1.14 billion, only one third of the $3.5 billion construction cost estimated in October 2008. By 2010 the estimated construction cost had increased to $5 billion.
The proposed freeway standard road would start at a junction with the West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway is a freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Geelong to Melbourne CBD and beyond. It is also a link between Melbourne and the west and linking industrial and residential areas west of the Yarra River with the city and port areas. The iconic West Gate Bridge is a part of the...
near Wellington Road. Heading north-east with an interchange at Hyde Street passing through Yarraville and Footscray over the Maribyrnong River with an interchange at Footscray Road and Dynon Road near Kensington Road, then a tunnel adjacent to Kensington Road to CityLink
CityLink
CityLink is a system of tolled urban Highways in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company Transurban was awarded the contract to augment two existing freeways and construct two new Toll roads—labelled the Western and Southern Links—directly linking a number of existing freeways to...
in Parkville. From Citylink in Parkville a tunnel under Royal Park, Cemetery Road and Alexandra Parade to join the Eastern Freeway. There will also be a tunnel connecting Geelong Road and Sunshine Road under Buckley Street, Footscray Road and the Maribyrnong River to a new interchange in the port area connecting to Footscray and Dynon Roads.
Stage One
Inner West to the Port(a) Construction of tunnels connecting Geelong Road and Sunshine Road to the Port of Melbourne
Port of Melbourne
The Port of Melbourne is Australia's busiest port for containerised and general cargo. It is located in Melbourne, Victoria and covers an area at the mouth of the Yarra River, downstream of Bolte Bridge, which is at the head of Port Phillip, as well as several piers on the bay itself...
area, running under Footscray Road and the Maribyrnong River
Maribyrnong river
The Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
along the alignment of Buckley Street, with a new interchange in the port area connecting Footscray Road and Dynon Road.
(b) Construction of an elevated road over the Maribyrnong River connecting to the West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway is a freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Geelong to Melbourne CBD and beyond. It is also a link between Melbourne and the west and linking industrial and residential areas west of the Yarra River with the city and port areas. The iconic West Gate Bridge is a part of the...
near Williamstown Road to Footscray and Dynon Roads. The new road would also include a connection to Hyde Street, providing a new route for truck access into the port and allowing the extension of truck bans in Footscray and Yarraville.
Estimated cost: $2 billion.
Stage Two
West Melbourne to Flemington/ParkvilleThis section would require a mix bored tunnel and cut-and-cover construction, in order to traverse the developed inner city areas of North Melbourne and Kensington. From the port interchange, the route would follow a north-east alignment adjacent to Kensington Road, with J.J. Holland Park required as a staging point for deep tunnelling (to be fully restored at the end of construction). Tunnels in this section are likely to be two or three lanes in each direction.
Estimated cost: $5.5 billion.
There is contention with respect to whether J.J. Holland park will be left open or not.
"In the concept design, it has been assumed that generally this section would be an open cutting with vertical retained sides as this provides an opportunity for the tunnel to daylight and would enhance the driver experience"
Regardless of which option is chosen, the Eddington Report suggests JJ Holland Park will not be available for public use for a period of 5–8 years. It is this aspect of the proposal which most concerns the residents of Kensington and the Kensington Flemington Junior Sports Club. Concerned residents have set up a website www.savehollandpark.org.au to fight the proposal.
Stage Three
Flemington/Parkville to the Eastern FreewayThe Alignment for this section would follow a route under Royal Park, Cemetery Road, Princes Street and Alexander Pde. At the western end, the tunnels would diverge to provide long, two-lane connections to CityLink
CityLink
CityLink is a system of tolled urban Highways in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company Transurban was awarded the contract to augment two existing freeways and construct two new Toll roads—labelled the Western and Southern Links—directly linking a number of existing freeways to...
for northbound traffic. No southerly connection to CityLink
CityLink
CityLink is a system of tolled urban Highways in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company Transurban was awarded the contract to augment two existing freeways and construct two new Toll roads—labelled the Western and Southern Links—directly linking a number of existing freeways to...
. The Eastern Freeway would also be widened to allow the lane configuration necessary for traffic to enter the tunnel or exit to Hoddle Street and Alexander Parade. Westerly ramps would be included near Hoddle Street and Queens Parade to facilitate local access. This section would provide three lanes in each direction.
Estimated cost: $1.5 billion.
Criticism
There has been criticism from Melbourne's media, public transport advocates and community groups about the proposed East-West road connection. Some of the criticism stems from the EWLNA being perceived as having too much emphasis upon road transport instead of public transport, as well as its environmental impact (during construction, and by encouraging car use, its movement of bottlenecks to other locations (Dynon Road) and its lack of need in the first place. Several local campaigns have been recently formed to protest the proposed road tunnel detailed in Recommendation 4 through the suburbs of Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Carlton, Kensington and Sunshine.Currently, the following city councils are opposed to the building of the tunnel:
- City of Moreland,
- City of Melbourne,
- City of Maribyrnong,
- City of Moonee Valley
- City of Yarra
External links
- Department of Infrastructure: East West Link Needs Assessment final report