Road closures making things ‘difficult’ for Melbourne operators

Container Transport Alliance Australia has responded to the announcement of “significant” road closures and traffic congestion in the coming weeks due to the West Gate Tunnel Project. 

CTAA has said this these closures are “perpetuating the difficult operating environment” for container transport operators accessing the Port of Melbourne.

In a statement provided to media, CTAA said it had fielded numerous enquiries from freight forwarders and others on the cost impacts being endured by container transport operators as a result of the ongoing road works.  

“Feedback from transport operators is that truck turn-times between depots in the west of Melbourne and the Port have blown out by at least 45 minutes to an hour, meaning transport delays and the risk of missing time-slots into the container terminals and other facilities,” a spokesperson said.  

“Container terminals are strictly applying their late & no-show arrival penalties, requiring transport operators to ‘adapt’ to the traffic congestion to compensate for the delays.” 

They added that since the beginning of this year, transport operators have reported an increase in penalty fees (and some import container storage fees) being applied by container terminals at between 30% to over 100% more than “normal” levels.   

“CTAA estimates that road congestion and delays have added between 10% to 15% more to landside transport operating costs,” the spokesperson continued.

 “This has included additional truck turnaround times, a reduction in optimal truck utilisation and payload reductions, more yard storage and container handling, and delivery delays.” 

See more information on the closures below.  

Wurundjeri Way southbound between Dudley Street and Bourke Street will be closed overnight on Friday May 3, from 10pm to 7am.  

The Footscray Road eastbound carriageway between Dock Link Road and Appleton Dock Road will be closed overnight on: 

• Tuesday May 7, 8pm to 5am 
• Wednesday May 8, 8pm to 5am 
• Thursday May 9, 8pm to 5am 
• Friday May 10, 8pm to 5am 
• Saturday May 11, 8pm to 5am 
• Monday May 13, 8pm to 5am 
• Tuesday May 14, 8pm to 5am 

Drivers should expect nightshift delays on the eastbound approach on Footscray Road as heavy vehicles will need to detour via Intermodal Way, requiring the right-hand turn into Dock Link Road from the Footscray Road Service Lane.   

The CityLink Footscray Road outbound exit ramp will be closed overnight on: 

• Thursday May 2, 9pm to 5am 
• Friday May 3, 9pm to 5am 
• Saturday May 4, 9pm to 5am 

The CityLink Footscray Road outbound entry ramp will be closed overnight on: 

• Tuesday April 30, 9pm to 5am 
• Friday May 3, 9pm to 5am 
• Saturday May 4, 9pm to 5am 
• Tuesday May 7, 9pm to 5am 
• Wednesday May 8, 9pm to 5am 

The West Gate Freeway between Millers Road and Williamstown Road will be closed nightly from Monday April 29 to Wednesday May 1. 

• Inbound from 10pm to 5am 
• Outbound from 10:30pm to 5am

CTAA said its advocacy has resulted in Transurban continuing to allow use of the Bolte Bridge as an alternative heavy vehicle detour route for combinations up to 85.5t GVM in the direction of travel of the closures of Wurundjeri Way during the closure times. 

The Harbour Esplanade / Bourke Street detour is available in the direction of the Wurundjeri Way closure but is not advised by CTAA due to the tight road space and interaction with trams, vehicles and pedestrians. 

Drivers are reminded that vehicles over 44t GVM must not use the Graham Street M1 Overpass. The southbound Bolte Bridge detour exits vehicles onto Lorimer Street and Todd Road to access Webb Dock. 

 Drivers wanting to access the Swanson Dock precinct from the south (i.e. from Webb Dock) will need to use Wurundjeri Way northbound as the exit from the Bolte Bridge down onto Footscray Road will be closed.