West Gate Bridge — Attraction in Melbourne

The West Gate Bridge is a steel box girder cable-stayed bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, spanning the Yarra River just north of its mouth into Port Phillip. It is a vital link between the inner city (CBD) and Melbourne's western suburbs, with the industrial suburbs in the west, and with the city of Geelong 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the south-west. It is part of one of the busiest road corridors in Australia.

The main river span is 336 metres (1,102 ft) in length, and the height above the water is 58 metres (190 ft). The total length of the bridge is 2,582.6 metres (8,473 ft). It is the fifth-longest in Australia, the longest being Melbourne's Bolte Bridge at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). The West Gate Bridge is twice as long as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and is one of the highest road decks in Australia, clearing the water at 58 metres (190 ft), with the Sydney Harbour Bridge clearing the water at 49 metres (161 ft).

The bridge passes over Westgate Park, a large environmental and recreational reserve created during the bridge's construction, and carries up to 200,000 vehicles per day.

On 11 March 2014, a 10 metre (33 ft) high artist-designed flag was raised on the western side of the bridge as part of the 'Melbourne Now' exhibition, On Top of the World: Flags for Melbourne. The flag was a collaborative design between four contributing artists (Brook Andrew, Helen Johnson, Kate Daw and Jon Campbell) who shared an affinity with the bridge. The flag design is a reference to 1803 maritime communications by Rear Admiral Home Riggs Popham, the symbol on the flag meaning ‘I can spare what you asked for’. The flag was flown until the end of the 'Melbourne Now' show on 25 March 2014

Strong growth in suburbs along the route, and increased freight through the Port of Melbourne, means that the corridor is experiencing traffic congestion during peak periods, is vulnerable to short-term interruptions, and is rapidly approaching capacity. Proposals to abate congestion by allowing more traffic have included bridge widening, a tunnel underneath the river, or adding a second deck to the bridge. Many such plans have come under fire from community groups such as the Public Transport Users Association and Environment Victoria, which advocate investment in alternative forms of transport.

A private sector report, made public in February 2006, suggested building a companion tunnel to the West Gate Bridge under the Yarra River, made up of three separate bores to carry traffic in either direction and a freight rail line. The portals would have been north of Williamstown Road in Port Melbourne, and between Blackshaws and Melbourne roads in Altona North.

The State Government also assessed options for the development of another east–west link in 2008. Sir Rod Eddington, Chairman of the Victorian Major Events Company and former CEO of British Airways, was to head the assessment of the future east–west connections and recommend the best way forward for public transport, road and freight travel for the entire Monash-West Gate corridor. By December 2008 the State Government announced it was planning for such a link, anticipated to be a three-kilometre road tunnel under Footscray and the Maribyrnong River. Linking Dynon and Footscray Roads in the Port of Melbourne precinct to Geelong Road in West Footscray, now known as the East-West road connection, its cost is estimated at more than $2.5 billion.

Owing to its height, the bridge became a popular location for suicides, with police data in the early 2000s showing up to one suicide occurring every three weeks at the West Gate Bridge. A 2004 coroner's report recommended anti-suicide fencing or barriers be erected on the bridge to deter people from attempting to end...

Every time I drive over the beautiful West Gate bridge, the flying flags of Australia remind me that I have made it after years of university studies, years of work experience, years of qualification assessment and tests. The bridge is a sober reminder of transition, of migration and of Australia. At some point from some angles and during certain hours depending of which direction you’re traveling, it may feel like you’re driving towards the sky and when the sun comes up at dawn and sunrise you can see the Melbourne CBD showered with pure gold. Also don’t miss the amazing scenery at sunset. I’ll try to upload some photos and videos to make my point.

Apart from the aesthetics, beware of the speed cameras and always follow the speed limits. The speed limits change and are usually between 60-80 but be careful as depending on conditions and sometimes due to some construction projects some lanes might be closed. Be very observant of the LED signs as they are dynamic and varying. It is always easy to set your cruise control and in the downward slope gain a few extra kms, you generally in Australia have 3 seconds to correct your speed.

I should also remind you that pedestrians are forbidden...

Good-ish Ordinary bridge, with dark history of collapse, but needs railing while Vic is under Labor. I have noticed complaints about the flag, I once called Vic-roads about the flags being tattered, they had a Vic and an Aussie flying and I think I remember them being tattered back to the first star. I was informed that they are 11m flags that are worth about $7000 each and last 2 days. I would like to mention that we have laws about flying flags in this country and no other flag is allowed to dominate over the national flag, So don't let me see another foreign flag on the west-gate bridge, It might seem like fun or less monotonous, but disrespect for the flag is against the law. And incredibly disrespectful to those who gave their lives to keep our freedoms and democracy, and the families who miss them. We don't pay tax, for Vic-roads to disrespect or subvert our nation. Relevant flags for the west-gate should be limited to The National, State, federal, Aboriginal, and...