The Labor government today announced four possible corridors for Melbourne’s missing North East Link, in a bid to solve one of Melbourne’s biggest traffic headaches.
It is expected the new roadway – which will be tolled – would carry up to 100,000 vehicles per day.
All four possible solutions are set to begin at the Ring Road in Greensborough and will link at either the Eastern Freeway, with tunnels, new surface roads and bridges forming the basis of the project.
A diagram of the 4 possible corridors for the proposed North East Link
- Corridor A: This 11 kilometre corridor would follow the Greensborough Highway south using existing freeway reserve and connect with the Eastern Freeway near Bulleen Road.
- Corridor B: This 24 kilometre corridor would provide a direct connection from the M80 to EastLink. It would not require upgrades to the Eastern Freeway.
- Corridor C: Similar to Corridor B, this 26 kilometre corridor would connect to EastLink and not require any upgrades to the Eastern Freeway.
- Corridor D: This corridor would connect with EastLink south of Ringwood and travel east using part of the proposed Healseville Freeway Reserve.
After initial testings The North East Link Authority has so far deemed Corridor A the most feasible project, but has asked for community and business stakeholders to provide their opinions into the findings.
Premier Daniel Andrews stressed that a the government’s key priority was “making sure we get this project right”.
“For decades the North East Link has been put in the too hard basket – this is the missing link Melbourne desperately needs to slash congestion and stop the rat runs in the north east,” he said.
“We said we would look at all options and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
The Victorian Budget 2017/18 provided the first $100 million for the North East Link to undertake design, planning and preconstruction works, ahead of contracts being signed in 2019 and construction commencing in 2020.
Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan said improvements of this nature along the north-east of Melbourne were long overdue.
“For too long local roads in the north-east have become default freeways. North East Link will fix that –carrying 100,000 vehicles a day and creating 5,000 jobs.”
“Unlike the previous Liberal government who rushed through a botched project, we will do the work, get it right and get it done.”
It is expected the government will decide on its preferred corridor for the North East Link by the end of the year.
AfMA members are encourage to ask questions and provide feedback on the project by heading to northeastlink.vic.gov.au
