We’re upgrading the Eastern Freeway with smart technology, new Eastern Busway, and a connection to North East Link – slashing travel times and improving travel in Melbourne’s east.

What we're doing

From late March to mid June, we'll close sections of road reserve next to Kilby Road and Fairway Drive in Kew East to establish safe works areas. This will create space to install underground cables that will provide power for new smart traffic management technology.

This new technology will be in place once the freeway upgrades are complete and will improve traffic flow and safety through variable speed limit signage, land control signals, ramp metering and help to detect and respond to traffic incidents in real-time along sections of the Eastern Freeway.

During this time, we’ll:

• install temporary fencing to secure works areas
• mark and protect trees to be retained
• inspect trees for wildlife and safely relocate animals under the supervision of an ecologist
• trim and remove selected trees in the road reserve
• build construction access point from Kilby Road and Minogue Street
• dig trenches to install underground cables before reinstating the ground
• install temporary worker facilities and store construction materials and equipment.

When and where

Day works: 7am to 7pm from Monday to Friday and 7am to 3pm Saturdays

Night works: 7pm to 7am from Monday to Friday.

We'll mostly work during the day, however some activities may be required at night, including on the freeway. We'll inform residents about planned night works ahead of time.

What to expect

• Increased presence of construction vehicles, machinery, equipment and workers
• Visual changes due to tree removal
• Construction vehicles on local streets and site access gates on Kilby Road and Minogue Street
• Some night works to safely remove selected vegetation closest to the Eastern Freeway
• Traffic controllers and signage on local streets
• Medium to high levels of noise, dust and vibration associated with construction activities
• Water carts and street sweepers to reduce dust and mud tracking while we work.
• Localised power outages while working near power infrastructure – your energy provider will notify you ahead of any outages

Managing impacts

We carefully manage our work in line with the project's strict Environmental Performance Requirements, including:

• signage, traffic controllers and detours in place to guide drivers and pedestrians around the area during the works
• monitoring noise, dust and vibration levels, ensuring compliance with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria guidelines
• managing dust on local roads by using street sweepers and water carts
• during tree tagging and removal we will have qualified ecologists onsite safely remove fauna.

Keeping in touch

We’ll be out talking to nearby residents and businesses about these works in more detail, including how we’ll be managing any local impacts. If you have any questions now, please contact the 24/7 Contact Centre on 1800 105 105.

For languages other than English please call 03 9209 0147.

Please contact us if you would like this information in accessible format.

If you need assistance due to a hearing or speech impairment, please visit relayservice.gov.au.