Works are powering ahead in Doncaster as electrical services are moved to make way for an overhaul to the Eastern Freeway and Melbourne’s first dedicated busway.
Work crews are preparing to move a section of power lines underground near Park Reserve, Doncaster.
Detours will be in place on the Koonung Creek Trail, between Outhwaite Avenue and Estelle Street, for pedestrians and cyclists until November while these works take place, adding around 500m to walking and cycling trips along the trail.
Moving the power lines underground will make room for the future widening of the Eastern Freeway, including more than 45km of new lanes, 6 express lanes, and Melbourne’s first busway.
Once complete, the busway will connect park and ride facilities at Doncaster and Bulleen to the CBD, reducing travel times for more than 6 million express bus trips a year.
Works are progressing at the new Bulleen Park & Ride facility – the first part of Melbourne’s first dedicated busway – with the concrete slab and wall panel installation well-progressed to form the new 370-space car park and the Park & Ride to be completed by the end of this year - four years ahead of schedule.
Doncaster’s existing Park & Ride will be upgraded as part of future stages of North East Link, doubling the number of parking spaces for express freeway bus services across the two sites.
The first package of works to upgrade the Eastern Freeway, which will introduce the latest traffic technology and new express lanes between Burke and Tram roads, has been released to the market, with a contract expected to be awarded in 2023.