It took years of legal wrangling, a toxic soil scandal, and billions in budget overruns, but Melbourne’s most controversial concrete artery finally pulses with life this Sunday. The West Gate Tunnel, a massive infrastructure undertaking that has divided opinion as much as it has the earth beneath the Australian city, is set to open its lanes to the public.

For the weary motorist, the stakes are high: a promise to unclog a choking city. For urban planners watching from Nairobi to New York, it is a test case in balancing massive infrastructure costs against the desperate need for movement in growing metropolises.

The Price of Progress

The project comes with a staggering price tag of $10.2 billion (approx. KES 887 billion). To put that figure into perspective for the Kenyan taxpayer, the cost is roughly ten times that of the Nairobi Expressway. While the scale differs, the narrative of ballooning costs and ambitious engineering is a universal language in modern infrastructure.

Premier Jacinta Allan, announcing the opening, described the project as transformative. She noted that the tunnel would fundamentally shift how the state moves, providing a critical alternative to the West Gate Bridge—a vital artery that, much like our own Nyali Bridge in Mombasa or the Thika Superhighway, often becomes a bottleneck during peak hours.

“This is a project that’s much more than just two tunnels – as big and impressive as they are,” Allan emphasized during the announcement. She pointed to the widening of the West Gate Freeway and direct access to the Port of Melbourne as key economic drivers.

Beyond the Tarmac

While the cars get the headlines, the project includes significant provisions for non-motorized transport—a feature often demanded but rarely prioritized in global urban planning. The development includes 14km of new walking and cycling links.

Most notably, it features a 2.5km “veloway”—an enclosed, elevated cycling superhighway connecting the suburbs to the city center. It is a bold nod to the future of urban mobility, separating vulnerable road users from heavy traffic.

• Scope: 6.8km of tunnels and 9.2km of elevated roads.
• Cost: $10.2 billion (approx. KES 887 billion).
• Community Impact: A 24-hour truck ban on local streets to reduce noise and pollution.
• Connectivity: Direct freight access to the port, bypassing residential zones.

The Premier also highlighted the immediate relief for local residents, noting that a 24-hour truck ban on local streets will come into effect immediately. As the first vehicles descend into the tunnel this weekend, the city holds its breath, hoping the exorbitant price tag buys the one thing money often can't guarantee: time.