We're overhauling the Eastern Freeway, with new express lanes, technology and Melbourne's first dedicated busway – slashing travel times and improving public transport.

We have started setting up work sites, with speeds now reduced to 80 km/h between Burke and Doncaster roads during the day and 40 km/h at night near work sites.

The new speed limit will be extended to Tram Road next year as major construction starts.

The Eastern Freeway Upgrades will stretch from Hoddle Street to Springvale Road and be delivered in three key stages. We're starting with Burke to Tram roads first.

From mid-2025 we’ll start on the book-ends of this massive upgrade, from Hoddle Street to Burke Road and Tram Road to Springvale Road.

Once complete, the Eastern Freeway Upgrades will seamlessly connect to the new North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen. Alongside the completion of the M80 Ring Road at Greensborough, they'll slash travel times across the north east.

Sign up for more project updates at northeastlink.vic.gov.au.

A smarter, faster Eastern Freeway

• 11 minute faster trips along the Eastern Freeway
• 6 new express lanes
• 18 traffic lights skipped to the airport
• Busway with park and rides at Bulleen and Doncaster
• 10km walking and cycling paths

Reimagining Koonung Creek Reserve and wetlands

In response to community feedback, extensive reinstatement works will return improved open space where it is needed to support construction.

In October this year, designs for an upgraded Koonung Creek Reserve and a reconfigured 43,700m2 wetland precinct near Valda Avenue were exhibited for further community comment as part of the project design from Burke to Tram roads.

We'll keep working through designs and community feedback for new paths, trees and plants ahead of major construction starting next year.

Located between Doncaster Road and Elgar Road, the Valda Wetlands will be reconfigured once construction of the new Eastern Freeway express lanes, new noise walls and new Heyington Avenue bridge are complete.

We’ll also be rebuilding Koonung Creek with improvements to better manage water flow and overall health.

Minimising tree removal

As we deliver the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, North East Link tunnels and Ring Road Completion, more than 30,000 trees will be planted across Melbourne’s north and east.

More than 2500 trees have already been planted through our early tree planting program, with more planned. For the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, trees have been planted early at Hyde Park, Kew, Katrina Gully Reserve, Doncaster, Morris Williams Reserve, Bulleen, Memorial Park, Box Hill North, R.E. Gray Reserve, Nunawading and Slater Reserve, Blackburn North.

Keeping you up to date

Our community engagement team will be out and about talking to people about works in their area and how we can support you during construction. You can also contact us on 1800 105 105 to speak to a member of the project team or to make an appointment to see us.

For more information, or to sign up to our e-newsletter, visit northeastlink.vic.gov.au

A better noise standard for the Eastern Freeway

As we overhaul the Eastern Freeway from Burke to Tram roads, we'll be building more than 11 km of new noise walls to meet Victoria's first 58 decibel night-time noise standard – making the Eastern Freeway noise standard the toughest in the state.

1. Reduced freeway speeds

Speeds are now reduced to 80km/h during the day and 40km/h at night on the Eastern Freeway between Burke Road and Doncaster Road.

These changes will extend to Tram Road next year and help workers safely prepare for major works while keeping the freeway open to traffic.

This daytime speed limit will be in place until 2028.

Safety barriers on both sides of the freeway and in the median will be installed. We’ll also begin to prepare dedicated worker and truck access between the freeway and construction areas – helping to keep cars and trucks off local streets.

In addition to reduced speeds, you’ll notice some lane and ramp closures at night. Please check on- road signage for any changes to the way you travel.

2. Bulleen Road diversion

We're building a new Bulleen Road to create the space needed to build the new Yarra Link Green Bridge and North East Link tunnel entrance.

There will be lane closures on Bulleen Road in November and December to complete these works.

For the latest details about this disruption visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au

3. Freeway Golf Course construction compound

From late 2023 we’ll set up a major work site near Freeway Golf Course in Bulleen. The area will support more than 200 workers who will move Bulleen Road and build the new interchange with the North East Link tunnels.

Drivers will notice reduced speed limits and lane closures at night on the Bulleen Road exit ramp as we install safety barriers and build dedicated access to the site for workers and trucks.

4. Koonung Creek Trail detour

We know the Koonung Creek Trail is important to the local area and will be keeping it open during construction with a long-term detour in place.

We ask all path users to follow signs and directions. We’re also working to keep the Estelle Street bridge over the Eastern Freeway open during construction.

5. Koonung Creek Reserve construction compounds

From January 2024 we’ll start to close sections of Koonung Creek Reserve in Balwyn North for two construction areas.

About a third of the reserve will remain open during construction with the reserve reinstated with improvements afterwards.

The works areas will support over 1000 workers and be used to help build the new interchange with the North East Link tunnels, new Eastern Freeway express and bus lanes, a new Doncaster Road bridge, new noise walls, and new walking and bike bridges at Estelle Street, Bulleen and Heyington Avenue, Doncaster.

In response to community feedback, we’ve reduced the size of the construction areas needed and will be keeping trees along Kosciusko Road and Carron Street, Balwyn North. We’ll also keep as much of the vegetation as possible within the compound footprint.

These major work sites will include onsite car parking to keep construction traffic off local streets.

To manage noise and other disruptions, large timber fencing known as ‘hoarding’ will be installed around the construction areas. We’ll be working with nearby residents to help choose designs for printed panels.

Works will be staged to return areas of the reserve to the community as soon as possible, with improvements to open space, wetlands and walking and bike paths.

10,000+ new trees including more than 1.8 million new plants will be planted for the first stage of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Burke Road to Tram Road.

Managing construction for local residents

As we deliver this major overhaul of the Eastern Freeway, we’ll be working to minimise disruptions for local residents.

We’ll be carefully managing our works to consider local people and the environment by:

• reducing the size of work areas by double-stacking worker buildings where possible
• keeping trees along Kosciusko Road and Carron Street, Balwyn North
• installing high-quality screening around work areas
• working during the day where possible
• building access roads to work areas off the Eastern Freeway to keep construction traffic and trucks off local streets
• building worker parking onsite to avoid using residential streets
• managing and monitoring noise, dust and vibration in accordance with stringent Environmental Performance Requirements.

When we'll be working

• Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm
• Saturdays 7am to 1pm

Project Timeline

• 2018-2020
  Environment Effects Statement, community consultation, planning approvals
• Early 2022
  North East Link tunnels interchange designs exhibited for community feedback
• Mid 2023
  Site investigations for Eastern Freeway Upgrades
• Late 2023
  Designs exhibited for Burke to Tram roads. While we're refining these in response to community feedback, you'll see us start to prepare areas for major construction to start next year
  Eastern Freeway median works and utility relocations begins
  Construction areas established for tunnels interchange
• 2024
  Designs from Burke to Tram roads finalised and major construction begins
• 2025
  Builders appointed and designs exhibited for the other two stages of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades
• 2028
  Eastern Freeway Upgrades and North East Link open, connecting with a completed M80 Ring

Property condition surveys

Before work starts, owners of nearby properties will be offered a free property condition survey.

Property condition surveys are commonly carried out for major projects.

Although construction is not expected to affect properties, surveys are offered for added reassurance.