The Andrews Labor Government today unveiled detailed designs for the North East Link – giving Victorians their first look at the state’s biggest ever road project.
With the reference design for the $15.8 billion project now complete, procurement can start under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan to unveil new 3D videos, images and maps of the mega project that will be on display across the north eastern suburbs over coming weeks.
In response to community feedback, the new design features more open space with new green bridges, a new noise standard and 25 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths.
The twin three lane tunnels are now 5.3 kilometres long protecting homes and environmentally sensitive parkland above, with the ventilation structures as far away from homes as possible.
The design features 1.2 kilometres of lowered road to minimise the visual impact and create more open spaces with green land bridges.
North East Link will also be built to a noise standard of 63 decibels, with better noise walls – standing alongside the Labor Government’s West Gate Tunnel as the quietest motorways in the state.
North East Link will give local roads back to local people, taking trucks off local streets, slashing travel times and easing congestion in the north eastern suburbs.
North East Link will be put out to market within the first 100 days of a re-elected Andrews Labor Government so that construction can start in 2020. The road is expected to open in 2027.
North East Link Authority will be running drop-in community sessions over the coming weeks. For more information and to see the detailed design, visit northeastlink.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’ve already removed 26 dangerous and congested level crossings and we’re building the Metro and West Gate Tunnels – but there’s still more to do. Only Labor will deliver the North East Link and give local roads back to locals.”
“We said we’d do the work to get this project ready to go within the first 100 days of a re-elected Labor Government, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“North East Link will be Victoria’s longest road tunnel, with massive land bridges and a series of high-tech interchanges to minimise impacts on homes, businesses and environmentally sensitive areas.”
“These designs show the community what North East Link will look like, how it will improve local access, open up new public spaces and how it will be built to the toughest noise requirements in our state’s history.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020