Tunnel traffic prioritised while local protections quietly scrapped

Following a successful North and West Melbourne Association (NWMA) meeting in September with stakeholders from the Department of Transport, Transurban, and the West Gate Tunnel Project (WGTP), local community consultation sessions were held to discuss the “day one” traffic changes associated with the tunnel’s opening.

In response to community feedback, stakeholders made the decision to scrap the proposed local road changes within West Melbourne. However, they have proceeded with all changes that facilitate fast traffic flow on and off the Dynon Rd bridge – changes that overwhelmingly benefit tunnel traffic, not local communities.

Shockingly, this decision was not communicated to affected residents. Instead, the department quietly removed the local road changes from the Transport and Amenity Program (TAP) webpage – without any public announcement or explanation.

This outcome is deeply concerning. The prioritised changes allow WGTP traffic to enter our local streets unconstrained and unmitigated, increasing the risk of rat-running and making roads more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

Meanwhile, the City of Melbourne has been absent from the decision-making process and has failed to take meaningful action to represent or protect our suburbs. NWMA has repeatedly requested a community meeting with the council and offered to host a forum where residents can directly engage with roads stakeholders and advocate for urgently needed local road changes to prevent traffic chaos.

The mismanagement of local road changes is already causing confusion and danger:

• Drivers are unaware of new restrictions, such as the inability to turn right from Spencer St into Dryburgh St. This is forcing vehicles to attempt dangerous U-turns on Dynon Rd or continue down to Lloyd St before they can turn right.
• Crossing Spencer St via Dryburgh St from West Melbourne into North Melbourne is now restricted to buses and cyclists. Yet, at the time of writing, maps (such as Google Maps) haven’t been updated, leading to illegal crossings or frustrated drivers dangerously speeding down Ireland St to rejoin Spencer St.

Adding to the complexity, the government recently announced that the Wurundjeri Way bypass will open early on October 27, and it will be untolled for travel between Dynon Rd and Wurundjeri Way. While this may temporarily ease peak-hour congestion, the full tunnel opening later this year will bring thousands of additional vehicles onto our local roads.

Residents must not become complacent. If traffic seems calmer at first, it won’t last! Without immediate action, conditions will deteriorate rapidly.

To stay informed and support the push for accountability and safer streets, sign up to the NWMA mailing list or become a member by emailing [email protected].

We’ll notify you of any updates – especially if the council finally responds to our months-old request for a community forum. •