Toll Gate, West Gate Bridge, C.1985
The West Gate Bridge is toll-free.
The first toll-exempted motorist, Mr Chris Olszewski, of Murrumbeena, crossed the bridge about 1.30pm yesterday. That was after a five-minute delay while press cameramen fussed over the last paying customer - Mrs Sharon Foote, of Drysdale, near Geelong. Mr Olszewski said he felt lucky and would take out a Tattslotto ticket using the numbers on his unused bridge vouchers. But the media hype didn't impress 13 toll collectors who found themselves out of a job. Bill Kenny has collected tolls since the bridge opened seven years ago. He has found another job but it involves an extra hour of travel a day and a significant pay cut. "I think it stinks,' he said as he waved traffic through the toll barrier. He blamed Left-wing ALP pressure for the backdown on an agreement 20 years ago that if a bridge linking the west was built, the Government would charge tolls. The Government is expected to lose between $6million and $10million a year by not charging the tolls. Bemused motorists slowed, wound down their windows and tried to pay - only to be told by Mr Kenny: "It's all over.” The RCA said pedestrians and cyclists would still be banned from the bridge, which is used by 35,000 vehicles a day and has had 75 million crossings since it opened in 1978. An RCA spokesman said the 24 remaining bridge staff would be employed until the end of the year. Eleven would be retained. West Gate supervisor Bob Roberts said the collectors found out only yesterday morning it was their last day.