North East Link is a step closer

Connecting an upgraded Eastern Freeway from Springvale Road to the M80 Ring Road.

We’re moving ahead on Victoria’s biggest ever transport project.

North East Link will finally connect the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network, while increasing the capacity of the Eastern Freeway.

It will reduce travel times, get trucks off local roads and link key growth areas in the north and south-east.

This massive project is set to be the single biggest transport infrastructure investment in Victorian history. It is expected to create and support around 10,000 Victorian jobs.

North East Link will:

• slash congestion and travel times
• clear bottlenecks on the Eastern Freeway
• build Victoria’s longest tunnel to protect the Yarra River and Banyule Flats
• get trucks off local streets.

North East Link will include:

1. An overhaul to increase the capacity and reliability of the Eastern Freeway will slash travel times. Up to 7 new lanes will be added and express lanes for through traffic will reduce the kind of merging and weaving that causes congestion.
2. A new interchange at Bulleen Road will be safe, seamless and kept as small and low as possible. Bulleen Road will be kept open for local use.
3. A 5km tunnel will start under Bulleen Road to protect residential areas, Bolin Bolin Billabong, the Yarra River and Banyule Flats.
4. An underground interchange south of Manningham Road with ramps to connect with local roads.
5. Tunnel under Lower Plenty Road. Connections on the north side will provide links to local roads.
6. North East Link will be lowered and run along the Simpson Barracks side of Greensborough Road between Lower Plenty Road and Elder Street. Green bridges will create new open spaces and keep communities connected.
7. Local access to Watsonia Station will be provided and car parking will be improved. A pedestrian bridge will link to the station and shops.
8. North East Link will continue north using the Greensborough Highway road reserve. Local roads along both sides of North East Link will still be available for local, toll-free trips.
9. North East Link will pass under a new interchange at Grimshaw Street. There will be connections to local roads.
10. The traffic lights at the M80 Ring Road will be removed and a new free-flowing interchange will link North East Link, the M80 and Greensborough Bypass.

Download the community update (PDF, 969.3 KB) to view a concept map for North East Link.

North East Link will fix the missing link between Melbourne’s north and east/south-east and get cars and trucks off some of our city’s most congested roads.

Cars and trucks off local streets a day

• 20,000 to 30,000 off Greensborough Road
• 9000 to 11,000 off Rosanna Road
• 11,000 to 14,000 off Fitzsimons Lane
• 11,000 to 14,000 off Lower Plenty Road
• 7000 to 9000 off Banksia Street
• 7000 to 9000 off Plenty Road
• 6000 to 8000 off Burke Road
• 5000 to 6000 off Reynolds Road
• 4000 to 5000 off Chandler Highway
• 3000 to 4000 off Main Road

Next steps

2017: Project corridor announced

• Conversations with communities about the project.

Early 2018: Early design

• We’ll ask communities to provide more input to help shape key areas of the project.

Early to mid 2018: Start planning and approvals

• We’ll refine the design further so we can start the planning and approvals process and will keep talking to communities.

2019: Select a preferred builder

• We’ll release the project to market and select a preferred builder.