Work is stepping up from Watsonia to Bulleen ahead of major construction on Melbourne’s North East Link Tunnels.
The main launch site for the project’s two massive tunnel boring machines (TBM) is taking shape in Watsonia. With the compound site now ready, crews will commence the realignment of a 300-metre section of Greensborough Road in the coming weeks.
This realignment, between Wattle Drive and Watsonia Road, will create space to build the TBM launch box while maintaining traffic flow alongside the tunnel construction work.
Work will also start to prepare the nearby Winsor Reserve, where a large acoustic shed will be built to support the TBMs. This will help contain noise, dust and light spill during the works. Excavated dirt will be safely loaded onto covered trucks inside the shed and securely carried off site.
From August, crews will set up work compounds along Greensborough Road and Bulleen Road in preparation for works on ramps and tunnel entrances, tunnel ventilation, and the new tree-lined boulevard along Greensborough Road.
Jacinta Allan, Acting Premier, said the investment in North East Link would get trucks of local roads and slash travel times in Melbourne’s north-east.
“Locals will start to see a lot of activity as we make changes to Greensborough Road to keep traffic moving before welcoming our tunnel boring machines,” she said.
Further works will include the removal of trees and vegetation within the project boundary, in line with the project’s environmental approvals. As many trees as possible will be kept, and more than 30,000 trees will be planted.
The North East Link project aims to fix the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network, overhaul the Eastern Freeway, build the city’s first dedicated busway, complete the Ring Road and build a North East Trail with more than 34 kilometres of walking and cycling paths.
The project is jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments.
For more information, visit: bigbuild.vic.gov.au
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