A section of the Bulleen Road Interchange has opened as part of the Allan and Albanese Labor governments' North East Link - the first permanent section of road to open as part of the congestion-cutting project.
The new connection will allow traffic to keep moving while crews build the North East Link tunnel entrance and massive interchange that will connect the Eastern Freeway to the 6.5-kilometre tunnels.
To build the new 270-metre section of Bulleen Road, crews installed more than 100 of the largest 'Super T' beams ever built in Victoria, each up to 43 metres long and weighing up to 126 tonnes.
Work is ramping up on the major upgrade to the Eastern Freeway, which includes new express lanes, managed motorway technology and Melbourne's first dedicated busway.
In the coming months, crews will replace two key pedestrian bridges over the Eastern Freeway at Estelle Street (Balwyn) and Heyington Avenue (Doncaster), to improve connections for walkers and bike riders who cross over the freeway, and provide connections to the Koonung Creek Trail.
To safely replace the existing bridges, sections of the Eastern Freeway will close at times overnight from late July to September.
In September, there will also be a planned weekend full closure of the Eastern Freeway between Doncaster and Tram roads to safely lift the new Heyington Avenue bridge over the freeway without endangering traffic below. Major delays of up to 90 minutes are expected, with motorists strongly encouraged to avoid the area.
The North East Link tunnels will connect the upgraded Eastern Freeway to the completed M80 Ring Road - cutting travel times by 35 minutes, skipping 18 sets of traffic lights and taking 15,000 trucks off local roads daily.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments, and will be complete in 2028.
As stated by Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
"The North East Link will take thousands of trucks off local roads and slash travel times across Melbourne's suburbs."
As stated by Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams:
"The North East Link has been talked about for decades and we are getting on and delivering it - creating thousands of jobs in the process."
As stated by Federal Member for Menzies Gabriel Ng:
"This is an important step, for the Albanese and Allan Labor Governments, in delivering safer, faster transport options for locals"
As stated by Victorian Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines:
"We are getting on with delivering this important project which will improve traffic flow and take trucks off local roads."
