Major Milestone Achieved as North East Link Progresses
The North East Link has reached a significant milestone as the first permanent section opens to traffic, providing motorists with the benefits of the fully operational Bulleen Road Interchange.
This new link enables traffic to flow smoothly while construction teams work on establishing the tunnel entrance and expansive interchange that will connect the Eastern Freeway to the 6.5-kilometre tunnels.
In the construction of the 270-metre segment of Bulleen Road, crews have installed over 100 of the largest 'Super T' beams ever manufactured in Victoria, with each beam measuring up to 43 metres in length and weighing up to 126 tonnes.
Efforts are intensifying on the substantial enhancement of the Eastern Freeway, which encompasses the addition of new express lanes, state-of-the-art managed motorway technology, and the introduction of Melbourne's inaugural dedicated busway.
Over the upcoming months, crews will replace two vital pedestrian bridges spanning the Eastern Freeway at Estelle Street (Balwyn) and Heyington Avenue (Doncaster) to enhance connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists crossing over the freeway, and to establish links to the Koonung Creek Trail.
To ensure the safe replacement of the existing bridges, sections of the Eastern Freeway will undergo intermittent overnight closures from late July to September.
Come September, a planned weekend entails a full closure of the Eastern Freeway between Doncaster and Tram roads to facilitate the safe installation of the new Heyington Avenue bridge over the freeway without disrupting traffic below. Significant delays of up to 90 minutes are anticipated, prompting motorists to consider alternate routes.
The North East Link tunnels will unite the upgraded Eastern Freeway with the completed M80 Ring Road, reducing travel times by 35 minutes, bypassing 18 sets of traffic lights, and diverting 15,000 trucks from local roads on a daily basis.
This collaborative project receives funding from both the Federal and Victorian Governments and is slated for completion in 2028.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
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