Big Build's Big Picture

Hi Westies, it’s the future. There are new roads, tunnels and trains in town.

Whether you’re in a car or truck, or on a train or bike, there are big improvements in store for you.

Let us show you how you’ll be getting around.

From Melbourne's west to the world

Next stop, Melbourne Airport

Pictogram of man scanning passport at airport security gates

From 2029, start your journey in style by taking Melbourne Airport Rail to the airport. With trains leaving every 10 minutes from the CBD, Westies can jump on at Sunshine or Footscray.

Fast times on the Tulla

Pictogram of a blue car with luggage on the roof racks

Thanks to the 24km of extra lanes completed in 2019, your journey from Bolte Bridge to the airport on the Tullamarine Freeway is now much faster. In the morning peak it’s almost twice as fast.

Destination: Sunshine Hospital

Ring Road renewed

If you’re headed to Sunshine Hospital, chances are you’re in a hurry. That’s why the M80 Ring Road upgrade is so important. 28km of freeway from Ballarat Road to Plenty Road is now faster and safer to travel on.

Bye bye to boomgates

Pictogram of a rail level crossing signal and boom gate

Cars are no longer held up by trains at Furlong Road and Main Road, St Albans. They’re just 2 of the 15 level crossings that’ll be gone across Melbourne’s west by 2025. The icing on the cake is the new stations at Ginifer and St Albans.

Step up Sunshine

Sunshine Station turns transport superhub

Pictogram of a 'Next Train' sign showing 2 minutes until the next train

When the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, you’ll never be left waiting. There’ll be a train leaving from Sunshine every 2 to 3 minutes in the morning and afternoon peaks.

Direct to the airport

Pictogram of myki card and boarding pass in a wallet

Travelling by air? From 2029, leave the car and home and take Melbourne Airport Rail. It’ll be just 11 minutes from Sunshine, so you’ll be at the airport before you’ve even decided which podcast to listen to.

Sunshine's in the loop

Pictogram of a street post with 4 directional signs pointing from it

Once the new Suburban Rail Loop is complete, it’ll run right through Sunshine. You could take the train south to Werribee, or head the other way to Bundoora, Box Hill or Monash. Construction of SRL East is already underway, and the next stages are in planning.

Free-wheeling in Williamstown

Boom gates banished

You know that sinking feeling when you hear the ding ding ding and a boom gate comes down? Well, Williamstown locals are feeling that way less these days – now that level crossings at Ferguson Street and Kororoit Creek Road are gone. There’s also a brand new station at North Williamstown.

West Gate tunnel or bridge?

Pictogram of a green highway sign, showing two directional arrows

Come 2025, you’ll have choices if heading to the CBD from the west. You could take the West Gate Bridge, or head into the new West Gate Tunnel, joining CityLink and landing in the city’s north.

Keeping Werribee moving

What level crossings?

Pictogram of an elevated train line going over a road, with a train on the tracks

Remember the Cherry Street level crossing? What about Werribee Street? They’ll soon both be distant memories now that the Level Crossing Removal Project has replaced them with road and rail bridges.

Wheels up, Werribee

The new Suburban Rail Loop will take you from Werribee to the airport, via Sunshine. The full loop – from Werribee to Cheltenham – is a few decades away, but construction is already underway out east.

Smooth moves, Sunbury

A new era for the Sunbury Line

Once the Sunbury Line Upgrade finishes up in 2023 and the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, you’ll see bigger, more modern trains running on the line.

Gap Road goes under

Pictogram of a road going intil an underpass underneath a train line

Imagine yourself driving through Sunbury in 2023. Instead of idling at the Gap Road level crossing, you’ll zoom right under the train line, thanks to the Gap Road level crossing removal.

Upgrades everywhere on Sunbury Road

There’s not much of Sunbury Road that won’t be improved after it’s upgraded in 2025. You’ll see extra lanes between Sunbury and Bulla, new traffic lights, new walking and cycling paths and more.

The best of the west

Roads to success

Pictogram of a four-way road intersection

Do you drive around Tarneit, Truganina, Laverton, or Hoppers Crossing? You would have already noticed smoother and faster trips, with upgrades of 8 major roads completed in 2020. The new lanes, upgraded intersections, and wider bridges are part of the Western Roads Upgrade

Better bitumen

You can expect major roads in the west to be kept in good shape into the future. Over the next 20 years, 260km of roads from Footscray to Werribee will be continually repaired and resurfaced.

Safer cycling

Pictogram of two cyclists, one adult and one child

As of 2022, the Federation Trail features 3 new bridges, taking cyclists safely over busy roads. That’s in addition to over 50km of new or upgraded cycling trails, including trails to Tarneit and Williams Landing train stations.

Faster freeways for the west

Ain’t no river wide enough

Pictogram of the West Gate Tunnel portal entry

Melbourne’s west will have a much needed second freeway link to the city by 2025, built as part of the West Gate Tunnel Project. A second crossing over the Maribyrnong River means trucks off local roads and fewer vehicles on the West Gate Bridge.

8 + 4 = 12

Pictogram of a green highway gantry sign with six arrows on it

By 2025, the West Gate Freeway will have been rebuilt from the ground up. Instead of 8 through lanes, there’ll be 12. Expect a faster, smoother trip.

Cyclists, you’re up

Pictogram of cyclists riding on dedicated bike lanes

For cyclists from the west, it’ll be a snap getting into the city in 2025. You’ll have the option of a new elevated cycling super highway above Footscray Road, with a continuous path from Werribee to the CBD for safer and quicker rides.

CBD levelling up, below ground

More stations, more options

Pictogram of a Metro train station entry

When the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, you’ll have an extra 5 underground train stations in the city and surrounds to start or end your journey at. There’ll also be more trains running in from the west, and direct connections to the City Loop.

Promptly in Parkville

Need to travel to Melbourne Uni or the Parkville hospitals? Your life is about to get a little easier. From 2025, Parkville Station will be an easy train ride from the west – just 2 stops from Footscray.

West to south east…easy as

Westies headed across the city to the south eastern suburbs won’t even need to change trains from 2025. Jump on the Sunbury Line and take it easy while the train takes you straight on to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.

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