[8][9] The West Link project was initiated to address capacity issues at Gothenburg Central Station, which operates as a terminus with no room for additional trains during peak hours.

[11] The project forms part of the West Swedish Financing Package (Västsvenska Paketet) and is expected to cost between 24.1 and 27.1 billion SEK (2009 price levels).

[7] Construction involves rock blasting through bedrock and excavation in clay, with ongoing installation of tracks, overhead power systems, signalling, and telecommunications infrastructure.

The plans were abandoned because of the cost, due to the high water table and ground conditions, which were unsuitable for tunnelling.

[16] In September 2023, the estimated completion date was delayed to around 2030,[17][18] with construction of the Haga section stalled due to slow progress and the contract re-let.

There have been objections by the operator of the Paddan tour boats to the proposal to shut the canal for three years in order to facilitate the work.

Established in 2010, other major projects included in the package are the Marieholm road tunnel, the Hisingen Bridge, and the burying of the E45 motorway in central Gothenburg.

[22][23] Almost half of the funding for the West Sweden Package comes from the Swedish state, which contributes approximately 47% of the total cost, while Gothenburg Municipality provides around 3.4%.

[28] The development includes approximately 140,000 square meters of leasable space, primarily for offices, but with potential for residential, retail, and cultural uses.

[33] Trafikverket (the Swedish Department of Transportation) are hosting a public art project from 2018 through 2026 to make the building fences less of a negative intrusion in the city.

[35] There are or will be artworks in Centralen, Kanaltorget, Sankt Eriksgatan, Västa Sjöfarten, Packhusplatsen, Skeppsbron, Södra Hamngatan, Rosenlund, Haga, Pustervik, Linnéplatsen, och Korsvägen.