The West Gate Tunnel is waiving charges to match the state's free weekend public transport throughout summer.
West Gate Tunnel is ditching tolls on weekends throughout January 2026, just weeks after the new road opens in December.
Toll operator Transurban confirmed the move in a letter shared by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on X, describing it as free weekend travel for drivers using the tunnel in January 2026. It’s designed to align with the state government’s decision to make weekend public transport free across Victoria over summer.
Allan had called on toll operators last week to waive charges during the warmer months, targeting both Transurban – which runs West Gate Tunnel and CityLink – and ConnectEast, the company behind EastLink. West Gate Tunnel answered the call with its January offer, though the gesture only covers one month of the summer period.
West Gate tunnel tolls
- Where: West Gate Tunnel, Melbourne
- When: Toll-free weekends throughout January 2026
- Opening: December 2025
- Standard tolls: $4.09 per trip (cars), $6.54 per trip (utes/vans)
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
EastLink won’t be going toll-free but is keeping its 20 per cent weekend discount running throughout summer. That discount has been in place since the road opened back in 2008, so it’s not exactly a new development – just business as usual for EastLink users.
West Gate Tunnel is currently having its final touches applied before the December opening. Once it’s up and running, drivers can expect to pay $4.09 per trip if they’re in a car, or $6.54 for utes and vans during regular toll periods. Those charges kick in once the toll-free January weekends wrap up.
Free weekend public transport across the state runs throughout summer, giving Victorians multiple options for getting around without paying.
January 2026 shapes up as a good month for weekend drivers using the new link, at least until standard toll charges return in February.
For more information, head here.
