Urban design elements to be constructed as part of the West Gate Freeway upgrade will enhance the freeway's visual appeal and the driving experience for the 160,000 motorists who use the road every day. When complete, the structures will also play a functional role in helping guide drivers through the world class freeway.
The two main features of the urban design architecture include two massive portals at the Montague Street intersection, and wayfinding walls at the junction between the Bolte Bridge off ramps and the West Gate Freeway.
The portal structures at the Montague Street intersection will be constructed where multiple tiers of bridges pass over a major local road. They will cover the vertical concrete structures which support the ramps, providing visual shielding and offering a wayfinding marker for freeway traffic. The portals have a modern, forward-looking style, consistent with the nature of the Docklands area as a centre of progressive development. When finished, they will form a magnificent centrepiece to the focal point of the M1 upgrade.
The wayfinding walls will be two elongated triangular blocks on the freeway alignment at the junction between the Bolte Bridge off ramps and the West Gate Freeway, marking the meeting point of two major road systems. The Bolte Bridge off ramps aid wayfinding by helping driver's perception of location, route and destination.
The urban design features have been designed to complement the road network, challenge conventional concepts of road building and design, and provoke thought. The structures will leave a lasting legacy that will reinforce Melbourne's reputation for high quality built environments and form a part of Melbourne's landscape for generations to come.
The impressive features represent the project's commitment to improving all aspects of the road network, and acknowledge a responsibility to provide more than just a route from one destination to the next.
For more information on the West Gate Freeway urban design features, visit the urban design webpage.