Tullamarine West Gate Link History

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TWL Historical Time Line

May 1996

Construction begins on 2.3 kilometres of elevated roadway had begun.

June 1996
By 30 June 1997, most of the piers to support the elevated roadway between Racecourse Road and Arden Street had been completed. The roadway is built from 3,500 precast reinforced concrete segments, each weighing between 45 and 80 tonnes. Work at the
precast facility in Laverton, began in September 1996 and the first segment was poured on 16 January 1997.

September 1997
Construction begins on 140 metre towers of Yarra Bridge.
The central foundation of the structure comprises steel tubes driven over 50 meters below the riverbed to the underlying rock. The pile cap alone for the foundation contains over 3,000 cubic metres of concrete and 800 tonnes of steel reinforcing to provide the platform for the central piers of the bridge.
The new bridge for Melbourne forms an integral part of the Western Link, creating the last section of roadway between the Tullamarine and West Gate Freeways. There are two main spans, in excess of 170 metres, each providing a river clearance of 30 meters at the highest point. The adjacent spans linking back to the elevated roadway are 70 meters long. concrete towers are 140 meters high and provide a striking landmark at the western edge of the Docklands.

**June 1996**
By 30 June 1997, most of the piers to support the elevated roadway between Racecourse Road and Arden Street had been completed. The roadway is built from 3,500 precast reinforced concrete segments, each weighing between 45 and 80 tonnes. Work at the precast facility in Laverton, began in September 1996 and the first segment was poured on 16 January 1997.

**September 1997**
Construction begins on 140 metre towers of Yarra Bridge. The central foundation of the structure comprises steel tubes driven over 50 meters below the riverbed to the underlying rock. The pile cap alone for the foundation contains over 3,000 cubic metres of concrete and 800 tonnes of steel reinforcing to provide the platform for the central piers of the bridge. The new bridge for Melbourne forms an integral part of the Western Link, creating the last section of roadway between the Tullamarine and West Gate Freeways. There are two main spans, in excess of 170 metres, each providing a river clearance of 30 meters at the highest point. The adjacent spans linking back to the elevated roadway are 70 meters long. concrete towers are 140 meters high and provide a striking landmark at the western edge of the Docklands.

December
The elevated roadway to connect the Tullamarine Freeway with the West Gate Freeway was rapidly taking shape, The viaduct, which will carry three lanes of traffic in each direction, is constructed using match cast segmental span by span erection. More than 80% of spans were completed, with both north-bound and south-bound carriageways extending from the Tullamarine Freeway to south of Footscray Road.
The pace of construction had increased with a 45 metre long span being added every 1.5 days The on and off ramps at Racecourse Road and the on ramp from Dynon Road were also completed

January 1998
Construction of the International Gateway at the city end of the Tullamarine Freeway started in January 1998, with foundation works for the various elements.

**December**
The elevated roadway to connect the Tullamarine Freeway with the West Gate Freeway was rapidly taking shape, The viaduct, which will carry three lanes of traffic in each direction, is constructed using match cast segmental span by span erection. More than 80% of spans were completed, with both north-bound and south-bound carriageways extending from the Tullamarine Freeway to south of Footscray Road. The pace of construction had increased with a 45 metre long span being added every 1.5 days The on and off ramps at Racecourse Road and the on ramp from Dynon Road were also completed

**January 1998**
Construction of the International Gateway at the city end of the Tullamarine Freeway started in January 1998, with foundation works for the various elements.

March 1998
Construction of the balanced cantilevered superstructure for the Yarra ridge commences.
The superstructure of the bridge has been built using a balanced cantilevered technique whereby portions of the deck are extended in each direction from the piers until they meet.

June 1998
At the end of June 1998, Piers 1,2,3 and 4 were complete, with construction of Pier 5 ongoing. Deck construction cantilevered from Pier 2 was completed and one-third completed at Pier 3. The 140-metre towers located at Pier 3 were half finished.

**March 1998**
Construction of the balanced cantilevered superstructure for the Yarra ridge commences. The superstructure of the bridge has been built using a balanced cantilevered technique whereby portions of the deck are extended in each direction from the piers until they meet.

**June 1998**
At the end of June 1998, Piers 1,2,3 and 4 were complete, with construction of Pier 5 ongoing. Deck construction cantilevered from Pier 2 was completed and one-third completed at Pier 3. The 140-metre towers located at Pier 3 were half finished.

November 1998
2.3 kilometres of elevated roadway which forms a key part of the yarra bridge had been completed. This elevated roadway provides the largest bridgeroom in Melbourne.

**November 1998**
2.3 kilometres of elevated roadway which forms a key part of the yarra bridge had been completed. This elevated roadway provides the largest bridgeroom in Melbourne.

January 1999

The Yarra Bridge towers reach the 140-meter mark.

June 1999

The Yarra bridge is open to the public for the first time. Many thousands walk the length of the bridge and elevated road, which is not yet open to traffic. The bridge and towers are given the names Bolte Bridge and Bolte Towers.

July 1999

Bolte Bridge, Towers and International gateway will be fully completed and open to traffic.
Update: Due to technical issues with the Tullamarine West Gate Link the opening has been delayed until August.

August 1999

Citylink will open the Tullamarine West Gate Link on the 16 of August 1999.