The Airport West tram terminus is a tram stop and terminus of tram Route 59 in Melbourne. The stop opened in 1992 as part of an extension from Hawker Street to serve Westfield Airport West.
History The adjacent Airport West shopping centre opened in 1976. Built and designed to serve the growing north western suburbs of Melbourne, the shopping centre quickly grew to become a busy location with many bus routes serving it.
Plans to extend the Route 59 came quickly. At the time, the route terminated 2 kilometres short of Airport West at Hawker Street. Public outcry quickly grew to extend the tram to the growing shopping centre which was reflected as the extension begun its planning in the 1988 MetPlan.
Funding was allocated to the extension in the 1991 state budget by the Kirner labor government. Many were skeptical about the extension however, funding was allocated at a time when Victoria was in an economic recession. The Kirner government wanted the project completed before the 1992 state election, fearing that a victorious liberal government would cancel the project.
Construction of the extension began in early 1992 with preliminary works underway by May 1992. The extension alongside the Airport West stop opened on 22 December 1992 at a cost of $4.9 million.
The extension opened during a time of renewed tram construction in Melbourne, other extensions around the time were along the Burwood Highway and Plenty Road.
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