West Gate Freeway to close for five nights

The state government is shutting down the West Gate Freeway for five nights as it begins widening works ahead of the West Gate tunnel project.

The stretch between the M80 and Williamstown road will be closed in both directions, from 10pm-5am through July 15-19.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan told 3AW Mornings as the work doesn’t include laying bitumen, the works shouldn’t spill over time into peak hour.

“This is so we can take out the poles and the gantries to actually widen the freeway from 8-12 lanes,” Minister Donnellan said.

“We’re trying to minimize the disruption overall.

“But its not as weather dependent as if we were laying bitumen.”

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Photo: AAP