Image: Artist's impression of new Eastern Busway and Yarra River walking and cycling bridge in Kew.
The Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP) for the Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Hoddle Street to Burke Road has been approved.
When complete, the upgraded Eastern Freeway will connect with the new 6.5 km North East Link – linking Melbourne’s east with the M80 Ring Road and cutting travel times by up to 35 minutes.
The Hoddle Street to Burke Road section of the freeway upgrades will deliver an additional freeway lane in each direction between Chandler Highway and Burke Road, ramp upgrades to help ease congestion around the Chandler Highway interchange, and smart traffic management technology to improve traffic flow for smoother trips.
6 km of dedicated bus lanes will complete the final stage of the new 11 km Eastern Busway with access for local bus routes at Chandler Highway and 4.7 km of new and upgraded walking and cycling connections will give people more trip choices and better access to inner city parks and trails.
In response to community feedback received through the project’s Environment Effects Statement, the UDLP exhibited for comment included a new landmark bridge over the Yarra River in Kew and connecting 2.9 km new path at Yarra Bend Park in Fairfield and 1.8 km of upgrades to the Main Yarra Trail including new crossings under Burke Road, Belford Road and Chandler Highway, a more stringent 63 decibel daytime and 58 decibel nighttime traffic noise standard, and extensive indigenous and native planting to reinstate areas needed to support construction.
From 27 October to 16 November 2025, we asked the local community to help refine the architectural and landscape design for key local elements, including the new and upgraded walking and cycling connections, the type and location of new trees and plants, and the look and feel of new noise walls.
While the plan was on exhibition, it was viewed online more than 8,685 times. Over 100 people visited an information display to speak with our team, and 366 submissions were received.
In response to submissions, the final UDLP now includes improved designs for walking and cycling connections and more planting including:
- a better route for the new walking and cycling path at Yarra Bend Park
- an improved connection with the Main Yarra Trail
- more separation between the new cycle path and re-built River Circuit walking trail near Fairlea Ovals
- buffer planting for the Main Yarra Trail in key areas along the Eastern Freeway
- improved locations for rest stops along walking and cycling paths, and an extra stop at Yarra Bend Park
- additional trees and plants to help screen and filter views of noise walls and retaining walls.
Thank you to everyone who took an interest in the UDLP online, came to an information session or gave us your feedback.
You can read more about what we heard, and changes made to the UDLP in the Community Consultation Report (PDF, 6.8 MB).
With the UDLP now approved, major construction work to upgrade the Eastern Freeway from Hoddle Street to Burke Road will get underway.
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