COUNTDOWN TO HISTORIC EASTLINK OPENING BEGINS

Monday, 12 May 2008
The $2.5 billion EastLink will open to traffic on Sunday, 29 June, 2008, and motorists will be the ones to celebrate with a four-week toll free period.

Premier John Brumby said 40 years after first appearing in the Melway and just over three years after construction began, EastLink will open five months early.

“This Government is taking action to deal with congestion and the massive growth in patronage on our roads,” Mr Brumby said.

“EastLink is one of Victoria’s most successful road projects, providing a $15 billion boost to the Victorian economy and 6500 extra jobs a year during operation.

“After decades of planning and inaction, this Government made the bold decision to make EastLink a reality for the Victorian community.

“The 39 kilometre motorway has now been delivered early, efficiently and effectively.

“Business is already booming in anticipation of this motorway and growth will only continue with the early opening set to improve business efficiency and competitiveness.

“EastLink will add greater capacity to our transport network, provide substantial relief from congestion on surrounding roads and slash travel times between Mitcham and Frankston.

“The outstanding delivery, early opening and toll free period make EastLink a landmark piece of infrastructure for this state.”

The $2.5 billion EastLink Project is a 39km motorway linking Mitcham and Frankston featuring 17 interchanges, 7km of toll-free bypasses, 88 bridges, a 35km shared use path, more than 3.6 million plants, 60 wetlands and twin 1.6km three-lane tunnels under the Mullum Mullum Valley.

Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said the Brumby Government had worked with ConnectEast to ensure motorists would enjoy a toll-free period as well as a Community Open Day to be held on Sunday, 15 June.

“The toll-free period is an opportunity for motorists to trial EastLink and experience the time-saving benefits it offers, keeping in mind that it will eventually offer Australia’s lowest private toll rates for cars,” Mr Pallas said.

“All Victorians will have a chance to walk, run or cycle on EastLink before it opens, with community festivities planned on the roadway for the Open Day and buses transporting visitors to each site.

“The Melba and Mullum Mullum tunnels will be a particular focus of the celebrations, open for the community to walk through and witness their outstanding urban design and state of the art features.”

Mr Pallas said that the civil works, the emergency services testing of safety systems in the tunnels and the quality inspections of the motorway would be completed in the coming weeks.

“Extensive testing of safety systems and quality inspections along the entire motorway need to be conducted before EastLink can be signed off by the project Independent Reviewer and opened safely to the public in June,” Mr Pallas said.

“EastLink will be the biggest road project in Victoria, with preparations for opening occurring overnight and the roadway carrying live traffic on Sunday, 29 June.

The Premier said that EastLink is an example of what can be achieved when the Government and the private sector work in partnership with local communities to deliver major infrastructure.

In addition to the Community Open Day, activities around EastLink opening will include a tunnel charity dinner on Friday, 13 June, hosted by Variety, the Children’s Charity to raise funds for sick, disadvantaged and special needs children.