Why so many major Australian infrastructure projects take ‘a lot longer’ than expected

The West Gate Tunnel project — which is already more than $4bn over budget — is facing a new budget blowout and a transport expert says it’s plagued by a problem impacting many major Australian infrastructure projects.

The Herald Sun reports increasing costs are likely to add hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of completing the project.

Transport and cities program director at the Grattan Institute, Marion Terrill, says the project “has taken a lot longer than expected” and it’s struggling with a problem that’s common in major projects.

Press PLAY below to hear the problem that plagues major Australian projects

“Australian governments do rush to market on these sorts of projects,” she told Jimmy Bartel and Mark Allen, filling in for Ross and Russel.

Image: Victorian Government