Now that tunnelling is complete on North East Link, we’ve said farewell to our enclosed conveyor belt over Greensborough Road.
When the TBMs started tunnelling in 2024, the conveyor belt was used to transport all the dirt and rock from the tunnels and into the massive Winsor Reserve acoustic shed on the other side of the road.
All up 5 million tonnes of dirt and rock was transported on the enclosed conveyor belt and into the 140 metre long shed to help contain dust, noise and light. From there, it was safely loaded onto covered trucks and moved offsite.
Next, we have started to dismantle the acoustic shed at Winsor Reserve, as works continue to create the Watsonia tunnel entrance, Greensborough Road boulevard, parklands and the Lower Plenty Road interchange.
After the Winsor Reserve shed has been dismantled in early 2027, site offices will be set up with some car parking in its place to support the next phase of tunnel fit out and completion works.
Fit out works include:
- building the road (3 lanes each way) inside the tunnels using approximately 700,000 tonnes of reinforced concrete
- installation of approximately 3,300 kilometres of cabling
- completion of 51 emergency access passages between the tunnels.
After works are completed, the space will be handed back and turned back into green space for the community to enjoy.
Once completed in 2028, the North East Link tunnels will connect the M80 Ring Road and the upgraded Eastern Freeway, fixing the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network.
