Big year ahead for Victoria’s North East Link

Victoria’s largest ever road project, the North East Link, is back in full swing for 2023 with major works restarting from Watsonia to Bulleen.

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan yesterday announced the first pieces of the project’s tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are now being built, ready to arrive later this year. Five road headers, including some that were used on the Metro Tunnel, are being refurbished to dig a section of the North East Link tunnels in Bulleen.

“We’re not wasting a minute making progress on North East Link,” Allan said. “With tunnel boring machines on the way, locals are going to see a huge amount of construction as we get ready to start tunnelling in 2024.”

Work has started on the TBM launch box in Watsonia – where the machines will begin their journey south – with more than 200 piles installed. The launch box will be 40 metres deep and 200 metres long and will include more than three Olympic swimming pools worth of concrete and 1700 tonnes of steel.

“This project has been talked about for a long time, so it is exciting to be preparing for the arrival of our TBMs – this is another important step in removing congestion from local roads,” said Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines.

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Member for North-Eastern Metropolitan Region Sonja Terpstra said: “There is so much to look forward to on North East Link this year – from the completion of Bulleen Park and Ride to the completion of the TBM launch box. This project is going to be a game changer for so many Melburnians.”

Works are also set to get underway this year north of Lower Plenty Road, with crews excavating the site to prepare to build ramps into the North East Link tunnels.

In Bulleen, a section of Bulleen Road being moved further west to make way for the construction of the Yarra Link Green bridge and the major interchange connecting an upgraded Eastern Freeway to the tunnels – enabling traffic to keep safely moving on the road during construction.

Bulleen Park and Ride is also expected to be completed this year, and contracts will be awarded for the Ring Road upgrade and the first section of the Eastern Freeway overhaul. The remaining Eastern Freeway upgrades will also be put out to tender – which will add 45 kilometres of new lanes, aiming to save drivers 11 minutes between Springvale Road and Hoddle Street.

North East Link is a significant employer for Victoria, with 2200 workers already on the project, including 160 apprentices, trainees, and cadets, who have worked more than 143,000 hours.

The North East Link tunnels and freeway upgrades are jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments, and due for completion in 2028. The project aims to cut travel times by up to 35 minutes, and take 15,000 trucks off roads.

For more information, visit: wwwbigbuild.vic.gov.au