It’s been a big year of works for the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, with all beams now installed on the Bulleen Interchange.
There are 188 beams, totalling around 15,000 tones, that make up the structures supporting the 3 new elevated ramps connecting the Eastern Freeway to the North East Link tunnels.
Beams were installed during various freeway and lane closures throughout the year, including 3 mega lift weekends in March, July and August.
The mega lift in March was the heaviest of the lifts, weighing more than 1,800 tonnes – making it one of the heaviest crane lifts in Australian history.
How will the future Bulleen Interchange work?
There are 3 major flyover ramps that make up the interchange taking you from:
- the tunnel exit towards Ringwood
- the tunnel exit towards the city
- the Eastern Freeway into the tunnels.
This will create a connection from the Eastern Freeway to the M80 Ring Road via the North East Link tunnels, when completed in 2028.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades will also deliver:
- 6 new express lanes
- Melbourne’s first express busway
- revitalised parklands wetlands and waterways
- smarter on-road traffic technology
- new and upgraded walking and cycling connections
- new and upgraded noise walls designed to meet Victoria’s toughest noise standard
- two new and upgraded park and rides at Bulleen and Doncaster.
