Spatial Media’s extensive range of digital engagement and visualisation solutions have helped engage with Victorians and prepare them for journeys using the new tunnels and road connections prior to the December 2025 opening.  

The Explore Your Journey online tool created for the West Gate Tunnel Project and Transurban teams, allows users to visualise how the upgraded West Gate Freeway, West Gate Tunnel, and new ramps and connections will transform travel across Melbourne. The tool was designed to ensure drivers, freight operators and the wider community were informed, confident and ready for the changes ahead of opening weekend.

The Explore Your Journey tool combines interactive maps with detailed route explainer videos, allowing users to explore new travel options and understand how different journeys work. A dedicated freight feature, designed for truck drivers and logistics companies is aiding industry change education. Linkt team were also able to use the tool as a virtual tour as part of their education on the new toll roads.

By making complex transport infrastructure easier to understand, the tool supports better driver education, journey planning and highlights the improved connectivity the West Gate Tunnel Project will deliver for millions of drivers each year.

The launch of the Explore Your Journey tool earlier in 2025 coincided with a roadshow across Victoria where members of the public were able to experience the West Gate Tunnel before it opened. Using the driver simulator built on Spatial Media’s Spatial Reality platform, attendees could get behind the wheel and virtually drive through the tunnel and its new connections, providing a realistic preview of future travel conditions. Spatial Media supported the driver simulator development from concept to installation and featured at major events including Australian Grand Prix, Avalon Airshow and The Royal Melbourne Show to connect and excite community.  

Spatial Media has leveraging advanced visualisation and engagement technologies to support community understanding of different project and design elements. We have delivered many high-quality 3D image renders and videos throughout the project lifecycle to support visual engagement across web, print and social channels.  

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Our core digital engagement tool from the early days to completion included development of an Interactive 3D experience on our Spatial Reality platform for the West Gate Tunnel Project Visitor Information Centre. Delivered through large touch-screen kiosks, the experience allowed visitors to individually explore the full scope of the tunnel and associated infrastructure upgrades, helping them understand the project in fine detail, to scale and learn about new journeys with an inbuilt route planner. Spatial Reality interactive 3D platform also enabled the project teams to curate their own content from the model including flythroughs, 3D image renders and custom driver videos.

The interactive 3D model was updated as the design and project progressed over many years and used to connect community to relevant changes in a clear visually engaging manner as seen in the video above.

To further enhance engagement, our team developed two fully interactive augmented reality (AR) experiences, seamlessly integrated with the project’s 3D assets. The AR experiences focused on the Northern Portal of the West Gate Tunnel and the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), featuring interactive tooltips, a day/night lighting slider, and detailed mechanical breakdowns. These immersive experiences delivered a deeper understanding of how the tunnel was built and how it operates, increasing visitor engagement by more than 130%.

Cyclists are another key stakeholder group for the project with the project providing new and upgraded cycling trails connecting the inner west to the wider bike network. We developed a 360 video series on the new veloway to enable cyclists to experience their new journey prior to opening through virtual reality headsets at community events, pop ups and activations. Seen pictured above is Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams trying the headset at Avalon Airshow.  

From interactive 3D and augmented reality to online journey planning tools, we ensure that we’re continuing to help major infrastructure projects communicate complex information in clear, engaging and accessible ways.

Love what you see? Get in touch with us at contact@spatialmedia.io to find out how we can create a fully customised community engagement solution for you.

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