North East Link will fix the missing link in our city's freeway network, taking up to 15,000 trucks a day off local roads and reducing travel times by up to 35 minutes. Tunnel excavation between Watsonia and Bulleen was completed in July, with both tunnel boring machines, Zelda and Gillian, breaking through. This major milestone marks the transition to tunnel fit-out and finishing works.

What we'll be doing

Activities to support tunnelling works will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During this time, we’ll aim to minimise noise and light impacts away from your property as much as possible.

Transporting our TBMs from site

We'll start transporting components of TBM Zelda from Bulleen to the Port of Melbourne now that the journey from Watsonia is complete.

In August, an oversize vehicle will be travelling from Bulleen via Bulleen Road, Manningham Road, Rosanna Road, Lower Plenty Road and Greensborough Road to the M80 between 10pm and 5am.

The oversize vehicle will travel at low speeds and stop frequently to cross existing infrastructure, temporarily remove traffic lights and lift overhead cables. During this time, pilot vehicles and traffic management will be in place.

Additional oversize vehicles will travel at times between September and October 2026.

Oversize deliveries

We'll be delivering large pre-cast panel beams and Super-T beams that will form part of the southern ventilation structure and roof of the tunnel. Deliveries will occur between 10pm and 5am Mondays to Fridays, with up to six deliveries each night.

Most deliveries will arrive from the Eastern Freeway and Bulleen Road before entering our work site off Bulleen Road near the Carey Sports Complex.

Changes to traffic conditions in August

In August, there will be lane closures on Manningham Road, Bulleen Road and Banksia Street.

Until 7pm Sunday 2 August:

• There will be one lane open on Manningham Road in both directions between Dora Street and Noelle Street
• There will be one lane open on Banksia Street in each direction
• Bulleen Road will be closed in both directions between the Creative Play Early Learning Centre entrance and Manningham Road.

From 7pm Sunday 2 August, the Manningham Road and Bulleen Road intersection will be closed, with lanes to reopen at 6am Monday 3 August.

During this time, there will be additional traffic changes and detours will be in place via Manningham Road, Thompsons Road and Templestowe Road.

Managing construction impacts

Throughout our works, you may experience noise, light, dust, and vibration. We manage these impacts through real time monitoring, water carts and street sweepers, targeted lighting, and reducing noise and vibration within the construction zone.

You may notice workers on local streets capturing photos as part of our ongoing management of these impacts. We do this in conjunction with our modelling to ensure we have an accurate understanding of how these impacts may be felt in different areas. We will notify you before capturing any photos that include your property and we are happy to provide these photos upon request.

You may also see workers machinery in place, in and around construction areas, workers completing surveys in local streets and an increase of trucks removing dirt from our worksites.

To stay safe, please follow all instructions from signage and traffic controllers. We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout these works.

Upcoming disruptions across North East Link Program

Freeways, bridges and surrounding roads are starting to take shape above ground while tunnelling continues underground. Traffic disruptions are expected from Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway this August.

Upcoming disruptions include:

• Eastern Freeway closed between Bulleen and Springvale roads from 10pm, Friday 14 August to 5am, Monday 17 August
• Thompsons Road closed between Bulleen Road and the Thompsons Road Ringwood-bound entry ramp from 10pm, Friday 14 August to mid-September
• Bulleen Road citybound entry ramp closed from 9pm, 17 August to mid-September
• Doncaster Road Ringwood-bound entry ramp remains closed until late October
• Plenty Road entry and exit ramps to/from the M80 Ring Road will be closed over multiple weekends from July to September no change from last month
• Watsonia Road closed in both directions between Devonshire Road and Grace Street from Monday 10 August to Friday 14 August, 9pm to 5am each night
• Grimshaw Street closed in both directions between Frye Street and Greensborough Bypass and between the Greensborough Bypass and Greensborough Road from 9pm Friday 11 September to 5am, Monday 14 September.

Schedule is subject to change. Visit our disruptions map for schedule changes. For more information call 1800 105 105.

Text North East Link to 0499 073 073 to stay up to date on traffic disruptions in Bulleen, Macleod, Viewbank, Rosanna, Watsonia and Yallambie.