Its Beginnings

By the late 1950s, Melbourne’s west was booming with industry, but access to the city remained frustratingly limited. The Williamstown ferry was no longer sufficient, and businesses were demanding a better way to cross the Lower Yarra River.

In 1957, the Western Industries Association – representing companies from Williamstown, Spotswood, Altona, and Footscray – began pushing for a new river crossing. Discussions with the government followed, but funding remained a roadblock. The idea of private financing emerged, leading to the formation of the Lower Yarra Crossing Company Limited in 1961, which continued negotiations with the state. Meanwhile, the Country Roads Board conducted extensive sub-surface investigations to assess possible routes.

By 1964, the debate had shifted to the type of crossing – should it be a high-level bridge or a tunnel? A committee was appointed to decide, but consensus proved elusive. Ultimately, the government ruled in favour of a bridge high enough to allow ships to pass beneath.

In 1965, the Lower Yarra Crossing Company dissolved, making way for the Lower Yarra Crossing Authority. Empowered by legislation, the Authority was granted the ability to borrow funds, acquire land, and introduce tolls to cover the bridge’s construction costs. The vision was clear: users would finance the bridge, and over time, it would become public property.

What began as a solution to a growing transport bottleneck would soon become one of Melbourne’s most significant engineering projects – one that would change the city’s landscape forever.