GTV9: Melbourne's Link to the Future, 1999
scana1979 scana1979
357 subscribers
21,819 views
189

 Published On Nov 20, 2014

Documentary aired on GTV 9 Melbourne in 1999 for the soon-to-be completed CityLink project - a 22km long electronically tolled road system constructed in the late 1990's to link the Tullamarine, West Gate and South Eastern (now Monash) Freeways built by the Transfield-Obayashi joint venture in the mid to late late 1990's. This partnership is known more commonly now as as Transurban was awarded a concession period to collect tolls until 2035 when it would be handed back to the Victorian Government. It was an early adopter of fully electronic tolling operating at speed, as the limited space in the inner-city environment prevented the construction of toll plazas for cash collection.

The project comprised of two sections: the Western Link joining the Tullamarine Freeway to West Gate Freeway via an elevated road following Moonee Ponds Creek - this follows part of the F14 corridor in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan, although the Bolte Bridge is located further west with the original F14 route following modern day Harbour Esplanade through Docklands. The second is Southern Link joining the West Gate and Monash Freeways via the (shorter) Domain and (longer) Burnley Tunnels. This follows approximately the F9 corridor of the same plan, albeit it did not follow the split tunnel route. Controversially the project involved widening sections of existing freeway and placing tolls on them - the Tullamarine Freeway between Flemington Road and Bell Street, and the South Eastern Freeway between Punt Road and Toorak Road.

Construction of Citylink started in 1996 and was opened in stages: the elevated Western Link opened in October 1999, the Domain Tunnel in April 2000 and the Burnley Tunnel in December 2000. Two months after opening a crack in the wall of the Burnley Tunnel was discovered letting in 5 litres of water a minute, resulting in closure of the tunnel for a period while repairs were carried out. The program features an interview by then Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett who oversaw the signing of the contracts to Transfield-Obayashi in 1995. The Kennett Government lost power in September 1999 at the Victorian State Election with a minority government led by Steve Bracks (with the backing of three rural independents) overseeing the opening of the road.

This production was made by then-IT and media company Infosentials Limited which went into voluntary administration in December 2000 following a technology-stock crash that year. The company was resurrected in 2004 as Traffic Technologies Limited, now producing traffic signals and road signs in use around Australia.

From a VHS recording - Monday June 14, 1999.

show more

Share/Embed