We're upgrading the Eastern Freeway with new express lanes, new traffic management technology, Melbourne's first express busway and a seamless connection to North East Link. These improvements will make travel safer, faster and more reliable.
While we upgrade the Eastern Freeway, we're focussed on managing and reducing impacts on the local communities during construction.
As with any major construction project, there will be times when our work activities unavoidably impact residents and businesses close to the project. We have a broad range of management plans, as well as controls in place across the Project every day, to help minimise these impacts.
Our aim is to prevent dust from affecting homes, businesses and public spaces. We'll respond quickly to visible dust or community concerns, and communicate ahead of works to ensure there are no unexpected impacts.
We follow strict rules under Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017, regulations, guidelines, and project approvals.
These include:
- working in a way that eliminates or minimises risks to human health and the environment
- complying with environmental reference standards for air quality
- complying with Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) outlined in the Environmental Management Framework for the North East Link program of works. Visit northeastlink.vic.gov.au for more information on the EPRs.
How we manage dust during construction
To manage dust during construction, we undertake a number of measures, including:
- daily checks to make sure implemented dust controls are working
- watering and/or stabilising exposed areas and haul roads –covering truck loads and stabilising stockpiles by spraying polymer
- reducing exposed areas where possible and stabilising these areas by spraying polymer or applying hydromulch as soon as works are complete
- reducing vehicle speeds on unsealed surfaces and using street sweepers on local roads.
We’ll alter work activities for upcoming significant severe weather conditions such as high temperatures and high winds that may result in additional dust levels. We also use additional control measures such as mist cannons for isolated areas or activities such as demolition works, where the potential for dust is high.
Monitoring air quality
We’re monitoring air quality in real time at multiple locations along the freeway. These locations are reviewed and approved by an independent auditor, and how we manage dust is endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
If dust levels above acceptable standards are triggered, we’ll review levels and implement additional controls as required.
We use smart sensors such as SiteHive and Airmet systems to monitor air quality. These sensors will be triggered if it detects the dust particle concentration is greater than acceptable levels.
Dust particles caused by construction works are generally less than 10 microns (0.0001mm) in size. If particles exceed this size, we’ll implement additional controls to manage this and ensure air quality continues to meet required standards and protect our community and workforce.
We also conduct daily and weekly inspections to monitor air quality across the project area.
Managing noise at night
To keep high volumes of daytime traffic on freeways and arterial roads, and for the safety of our workers, we regularly need to carry out works at night.
Prior to starting work at night, we must obtain approval from an Independent Environmental Auditor.
As part of this process, we must demonstrate the need for the night works, produce modelling that predicts the noise impacts associated with the works, outline how we will manage the works on site and notify our local residents.
We manage impacts for nearby residents and businesses with a range of measures such as adjusting the time of planned works, offering temporary relocation, or changing construction methods to reduce noise.
During construction, on-site noise monitors are used to check noise levels remain within predicted modelled levels.
The project's environmental specialists will also carry out overnight monitoring near properties during construction.
If the monitoring shows noise levels above the predicted levels, we will make adjustments on site to address this.