A 30-day construction blitz has delivered a major extension to the Hurstbridge Line tunnel at Watsonia, creating Melbourne's third longest rail tunnel as part of integrated transport upgrades across the city's northeast.

Round-the-clock work between Heidelberg and Eltham stations has rebuilt and widened the Grimshaw Street Bridge whilst extending the rail tunnel between Grimshaw Street and Elder Street, marking a critical milestone in the broader M80 Ring Road Completion project.

Train services will resume for Hurstbridge Line passengers from Tuesday, November 4, with minor finishing works on the rail corridor continuing into early 2026.

The extended tunnel now spans almost 500 metres, making it the third longest on Melbourne's metropolitan network behind the City Loop and the recently opened Metro Tunnel.

Beyond the tunnel extension, the project has delivered essential corridor upgrades including modernised tracks, gantries, overhead wiring and signalling systems to replace ageing infrastructure. The improvements will enhance safety and reliability for passengers across a five-kilometre stretch between Macleod and Greensborough stations.

Above the rail corridor, construction is advancing rapidly on new road infrastructure, with motorists now using additional lanes along the M80 Ring Road and Greensborough Bypass as the new M80 Ring Road Interchange takes shape.

When complete, the upgraded M80 Ring Road will divert 19,000 cars and trucks from Greensborough Road daily, delivering substantial congestion relief for the growing northeast region.

The works form part of North East Link, Victoria's largest road project, which currently employs more than 8000 workers and is generating over 12,000 jobs throughout the construction phase.

The State Government has previously delivered the Hurstbridge Line Duplication project, which duplicated 3.5 kilometres of track, opened two new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency, and upgraded Diamond Creek Station—adding 40 weekly services for line users.

The North East Link tunnels, M80 Ring Road Completion and Eastern Freeway Upgrades are jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments, with completion scheduled for 2028. The integrated programme will reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes and remove 15,000 trucks from local roads.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, thanked passengers for their patience during the intensive construction period.

Member for Eltham, Vicki Ward, emphasised the project's significance for the local community. "For decades, locals have been talking about the need to fix the missing link in our road network—it's fantastic to now see the tunnel taking shape and trains running again along the Hurstbridge Line."

Member for Ivanhoe, Anthony Carbines, described the completion of works as a "big win for locals," highlighting the transformative impact of the infrastructure improvements on the region.

The coordinated delivery of rail and road projects demonstrates how Federal and Victorian government collaboration is addressing Melbourne's transport challenges, improving connectivity and accommodating population growth across the metropolitan network.

Source: Infrastructure Magazine