The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments' North East Link is another step closer to slashing travel times, with contracts now awarded for the final stages of the Eastern Freeway transformation.
Premier Jacinta Allan today announced two consortiums have been chosen to transform the Eastern Freeway - to deliver more lanes, better connections and keep Victorian families moving.
The Momentum consortium - comprising John Holland, Seymour Whyte, Jacobs and Mott Macdonald - has been awarded the contract to upgrade the freeway between Hoddle Street and Burke Road, including new lanes, new motorway technology, connections to the Eastern Busway, and walking and cycling paths.
The Synergy consortium - comprising CPB Contractors, BMD Constructions and Arup - has been awarded the contract for the upgrades between Tram and Springvale roads, including new lanes, new managed motorway technology and upgrades to the Koonung Creek Linear Park.
Construction is well underway on the first section of Eastern Freeway between Burke and Tram roads - with work to build the new interchange with North East Link, new busway and new lanes moving ahead.
Once complete the works will add more than 45 kilometres of new lanes where they're needed most - slashing travel times and seamlessly connecting to the North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen.
It will also deliver new express lanes, modern traffic management technology and Melbourne's first dedicated 11 kilometre busway from Doncaster toward the city - seamlessly connecting to the new North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen.
With builders now onboard, Urban Design and Landscape Plans (UDLP) for these stages of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades will go on exhibition later this year, to ask people what they think about the look and feel of the design in their local area - ahead of major construction starting early next year.
A huge amount of work is underway to build North East Link and upgrade the freeways - two tunnel boring machines are digging deep under Rosanna, interchanges are being built near Bulleen Road and Greensborough Bypass, and work is underway along the M80 and the Eastern Freeway between Burke and Tram roads.
The North East Link tunnels will connect the upgraded Eastern Freeway to the 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 Premier Jacinta Allan
"The North East Link Project and Eastern Freeway Upgrade - will slash travel times for busy families and get trucks off local roads."
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"We're adding more than 45 kilometres of new lanes where they're needed most, slashing travel times along the Eastern Freeway."
As stated by Member for Deakin Matt Gregg
"Melbourne's east has waited long enough for an overhaul of the Eastern Freeway. This upgrade will mean faster travel times, and will deliver the city's first dedicated busway and connect to the North East Link tunnels."
As stated by Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
"Boosting capacity across the freeway will ease congestion - ensuring the thousands of people who rely on the Eastern every day, get to where they need to go sooner and safer."
