Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Transurban Group on the A$6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Victoria. The project will deliver a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge, providing a much needed second river crossing, quicker and safer journeys, and remove thousands of trucks from residential streets and provide a direct freight link to the Port of Melbourne.
The West Gate Tunnel Project includes widening the West Gate Freeway from eight to 12 lanes, Victoria’s longest road tunnel from the West Gate Freeway to the Port of Melbourne, a bridge over the Maribyrnong River and state-of-the-art smart technology.
The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by Projects Delivery and Project Finance partners Richard Wilkinson and Jon Evans, supported by senior associate Joseph Varghese and solicitors Tehanee Bardolia, Tessa Spence and Jessica Voong. Partner Nick Baker also led the corporate arrangements.
Richard Wilkinson said, “As well as providing an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, this project will provide an A$11 billion boost to the Victorian economy, generate 6,000 new jobs and significantly reduce time between the West and the CBD. We are proud to have been working with Transurban to deliver this iconic and important piece of infrastructure for Victoria.”
This is another example of Herbert Smith Freehills’ market-leading work in major road transport infrastructure projects. Other recent examples include the Brisbane’s Logan Enhancement Project, Sydney’s NorthConnex Motorway, Brisbane’s Inner City Bypass and Sydney’s Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.