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This summer will welcome free public transport on weekends in Victoria – as well as, after a call from the Premier, free tolls on one of Melbourne's newest roads for parts of January.
Melbourne's West Gate Tunnel will waive tolls on weekends in January 2026 – shortly after the new road link's opening due this December – in a move intended to coincide with free weekend public transport across the state this summer.
Toll operator Transurban confirmed it will offer "free weekend travel for drivers using the West Gate Tunnel in January 2026," in a letter posted by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on X (formerly Twitter).
It is in response to a call from Allan last week for Transurban – operator of the West Gate Tunnel and CityLink – and ConnectEast, which owns EastLink, to waive toll costs over summer to match the government's move to make weekend public transport free during the period.
EastLink tolls will not be free, but the operator has confirmed it will continue its 20 per cent discount on weekends and public holidays throughout the summer, in place since the road's opening in 2008.
Allen said in last week's letter that free tolls would be a "way you can say thanks to every Victorian who has put up with short-term disruption and changes to their travel."
The West Gate Tunnel is undergoing its "final touches" before opening in December 2025.
Aside from toll-free and discounted periods, drivers will be charged $4.09 per trip on the new road if in a car, or $6.54 for utes and vans.
These prices are only set until December 31, 2025, and may change in the new year.
New South Wales created a $60 weekly cap on Linkt toll roads at the beginning of 2024, while on the public transport side, Queensland transit operator Translink has set a flat rate for all fares of 50 cents.
Ilana is a Melbourne-based journalist who was previously a copywriter in the Big Apple. Having moved to Melbourne for her Master of Journalism, she has written articles about food, farm machinery, fashion, and now the fast and furious. Her dream car has been a Mini Cooper since the fifth grade, eyeing its style and petite size.
