Tunnel activity causes Melbourne container freight congestion 

Traffic postponements and street clogs caused alarm among holder transport administrators in Melbourne as the West Gate Passage Tunnel enters another period of street closure, lane restriction and weighty vehicle re-routes, as per the Container Transport Alliance Australia. 

CTAA director Neil Chambers said transport administrators have been left puzzling over whether the blockage on Monday is what they are probably going to encounter for a considerable length of time until the street development is settled. 

“If that is the case, landside efficiency and productivity at the Port of Melbourne will be severely compromised. Ultimately, this will be to the detriment of importers and exporters, and consumers, in the peak season leading into Christmas,” Chambers said. 

Road works related to the WGTP have caused critical lane limitations (westbound and eastbound) on Footscray Road in the Swanson Area of the Port of Melbourne. 

“CTAA has been assured today [9 October] that the government is putting in place additional measures to divert private vehicles away from Footscray Road, and to alter the traffic-light sequencing at a number of intersections to allow more trucks to pass per cycle,” Chambers added. 

Chambers said Monday was really one of the following periods of street disturbances and closures associated with the WGTP. 

“Industry will continue to try to work with the project and the government to overcome the negative impacts of congestion and delays. 

However, it is clear to the container logistics industry that if the road congestion experienced today continues, then trade through the Port of Melbourne will be negatively impacted to a large degree in what is traditionally its most busy period of operations,” Chambers said. 

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