\u201cYes, this was a really complex project, and it did face some challenges on its journey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[But] it\u2019s worth it today because of what it means right now: an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, trucks off local roads, direct access to the Port of Melbourne, getting people home to their families sooner.<\/p>\n
![\"Rainbow](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2ef51b13596a75ad6aa45276dfd7a5123bb8336d.jpeg\")
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Rainbow lights inside the West Gate Tunnel on Sunday morning.Credit: Penny Stephens<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be also worth it in the decades ahead because as our city and state grows, this is exactly the sort of infrastructure we need to invest in today to support that growth into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite sparse traffic in the new tunnel, inner-west residents said there was a noticeable decrease in trucks on local roads thanks to the accompanying implementation of a truck ban<\/a> on six roads in Yarraville, Footscray, Spotswood and Altona North.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was eerie not having a single truck on Francis Street this morning,\u201d said Breanne Geyle, who has lived on the street for almost 40 years. \u201cI\u2019m elated.\u201d<\/p>\n June Jones, another Francis Street resident, said the volume and size of trucks had increased significantly over the past decade, exposing residents to pollution and danger.<\/p>\n Trucks on Francis Street, Yarraville, in 2018.Credit: Paul Jeffers<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve allowed road trains down residential streets where we\u2019ve got kids crossing here to get to school,\u201d she said. \u201cHaving the trucks off will help with the pollution and also just the safety of the kids and the residents of the area.\u201d<\/p>\n Maribyrnong Truck Action Group Martin Wurt said he had received only one report of a truck violating the new truck ban on Sunday.<\/p>\n However, Wurt said he was concerned about the state government\u2019s comments that freight companies would have a grace period of up to six months before being issued $610 fines for driving on the newly banned routes.<\/p>\n \u201cIndustry and the governor have had 10 years to prepare for today, so that is of concern for our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Trucks](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cbeeb9937113bdb0410d5f7b014c83e65ea742f2.jpeg\")
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