The first contracts for the two biggest freeway overhauls in Victoria’s history have been signed, with major upgrades to the Eastern Freeway and M80 Ring Road to start in 2024.
The freeway upgrades and 6.5km North East Link tunnels will reportedly cut travel time by 35 minutes in the north east, taking 15,000 trucks off local roads each day.
Through six years of design and planning work, major scope has been added to the North East Link in response to community feedback – including a longer tunnel, a major upgrade of the M80 Ring Road at Greensborough and better interchanges.
In the first major upgrades to the Eastern Freeway in decades, more than 45km of new lanes and traffic management systems will cut travel time by 11 minutes between Springvale Road and Hoddle Street, with 10km of walking and cycling paths and a rebuilt Koonung Creek Reserve.
In the north, a major upgrade will finally complete the M80 Ring Road at Greensborough, adding nearly 15km of new lanes from Plenty Road to the new North East Link and a more efficient interchange at Grimshaw Street.
New walking and cycling links will also be added, with new green bridges connecting to a revitalised Watsonia precinct.
New noise walls along the freeway will give local homes more protection and the project will also deliver Melbourne’s first dedicated busway from Doncaster to the city, and an upgraded Park and Ride at Doncaster.
The Eastern Freeway upgrades will stretch from Hoddle Street to Springvale Road and be delivered in three stages.
Nexus – made up of Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd, Symal Infrastructure Pty Ltd, WSP Australia Pty Ltd and Arcadis Australia Pacific Pty Ltd – has been appointed to deliver the first part of the $5.7 billion overhaul of the Eastern Freeway from Burke to Tram roads.
AMA – made up of Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd, AECOM Australia Pty Ltd, and MACA Civil Pty Ltd – will deliver the $3.8 billion M80 Ring Road Completion.
Work on the two freeway overhauls will step up from early 2024.
Significant disruption is expected over the coming years as both freeway upgrades are tied in with the new North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen.
The North East Link tunnels, Eastern Freeway Captions and M80 Ring Road Completion are expected to open in 2028.