31 July 2026
We’re improving public transport in Melbourne’s east.
Melbourne’s first dedicated busway – the Eastern Busway – will deliver faster, more frequent, and more reliable trips to and from the city.
The Eastern Busway is part of a major overhall of the Eastern Freeway – slashing travel times and easing congestion. We're connecting an upgraded Doncaster Park & Ride and the new Bulleen Park & Ride to new dedicated bus lanes, separated from traffic, along the Eastern Freeway.
When complete in 2028, the Eastern Busway will provide safer and more reliable journeys from Doncaster Road to Hoddle Street, cutting travel times for 6 million passengers that use the freeway buses each year.
Two park and rides
The first piece of the Eastern Busway, Bulleen Park & Ride, opened to passengers in April 2023, 4 years ahead of schedule, ready for Doncaster Park & Ride to be upgraded from early 2025.
Eastern busway overview
Buses will travel in fully separated, bus-only express lanes located on the northern side of the Eastern Freeway. A bridge at Chandler Highway will take city-bound buses to dedicated busway lanes towards the Hoddle Street exit.
The busway lanes will run on the side of the freeway for easy to use passenger connections at Doncaster Park & Ride and Bulleen Park & Ride. Buses will travel up to 100 kilometres per hour on the busway. This will be a significant improvement from current bus speeds during peak hour.
Local buses routes that use the freeway today, including routes to Alphington, Kew and Balwyn North, will be able to get on and off the busway at Chandler Highway for faster trips to and from the city.
A new walking and cycling bridge will open over the Eastern Freeway by late 2026, making it easier to access Bulleen Park & Ride with a safer, more efficient route.
The upgraded Doncaster Park & Ride, together with a new Bulleen Park & Ride open now, will double the number of commuter parking spaces and improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
Smoother trips for the 16,000 people who already use the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) services every day.
Catching buses during works
We opened Bulleen Park & Ride four years early, to keep locals on buses while Doncaster Park & Ride is upgraded. With 370 parking spaces, drop and go bays, secure bicycle connections to Koonung Creek Trail, commuters in the area remain connected to bus services during works.
New and upgraded bus stops on Doncaster Road ensure nearby residents can continue to catch buses throughout construction of the new Doncaster Park & Ride.
Learn more about the upgrades to the Eastern Freeway
We’re always happy to speak with people in person about the Eastern Busway and all aspects of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades at our Project Information Centre, at 284 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North, open Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 3pm.
1800 105 105 (call anytime). For languages other than English please call 9209 0147.
If you need assistance due to a hearing or speech impairment, please visit relayservice.gov.au