Starting off the new year strong, the Eastern Freeway Upgrades closed the freeway in January to demolish the old Doncaster Road bridge and install high voltage cables under the freeway.
From 7 to 12 January, the Eastern Freeway was closed between Doncaster and Middleborough roads to complete critical demolition and relocation works. Despite the wind, heat and thunderstorms, works were completed and the freeway reopened on time, allowing the next stage of works on the Eastern Freeway Upgrades to commence.
To demolish the old Doncaster Road bridge, excavators with hammer attachments operated from the bridge and Eastern Freeway. Protective pads were installed under the bridge on the Eastern Freeway to catch concrete and rubble during the works and ensure the freeway surface wasn’t damaged.
Further down the freeway we completed critical power relocations. Between Tram and Middleborough roads we built a 55m long and 2.3m deep trench across the freeway, excavating more than 800m3 of material in the process. The alignment of the existing underground high voltage cables conflicted with future ramp and freeway structures and needed to be relocated to allow the next stage of upgrade works to commence.
Crews worked 24/7 to complete these relocations, installing 18 cables within the trench and reconnecting them into the existing network.
With traffic already moved onto the city-side of the new Doncaster Road bridge in December 2025, demolishing the old bridge was the next step in allowing major construction to begin on the new Ringwood-side bridge in 2026.
Once complete, the new Doncaster Road interchange will accommodate 10 lanes of traffic on the bridge and provide space underneath for 6 express lanes and Melbourne’s first dedicated busway.
Find out more about the Eastern Freeway Upgrades.