Since the middle of 2015 Smedley Technical and Strategic has been providing ongoing advisory services to the Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources in relation to the Western Distributor Project.
The Western Distributor is a $5.5 billion project which involves widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes between the M80 and Williamstown Road, a tunnel under Yarraville and a second river crossing over the Maribyrnong River. The project then extends through an elevated road along Footscray Road with direct links to the Port of Melbourne, CityLink and links to bypass traffic around the CBD.
Smedley Technical and Strategic has provided technical direction into the development of the Government reference business case, the development of an initial State Concept Design, the proposed tolling structure and the ongoing review and evaluation of the Market Led Proposal from Transurban.
The Victorian Government has now elected to progress the project through exclusive negotiations with Transurban as part of Stage 4 of the State's Market-led Proposals Guideline. Smedley Technical and Strategic is continuing to provide direction and assistance to the State team with respect to the technical aspects of these ongoing negotiations.