Residents in the northern suburbs will get their first look at detailed designs for the Andrews Labor Government’s North East Link from today.
With the reference design for the $15.8 billion project now complete, procurement can start under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government.
Member for Eastern Metro region Shaun Leane is encouraging locals to drop in to a community session or log on to the North East Link Authority website to learn more about the project.
The Eastern Freeway overhaul as part of North East Link will slash travel times by 40 per cent, separate buses from other traffic and remove frustrating bottlenecks.
The project is also going to include a new, tough noise standard of 63 decibels – this is fantastic news for communities living near the Eastern Freeway.
With North East Link and the Eastern Freeway overhaul combined, people will be able to drive from the Springvale Road to the airport without hitting a single traffic light.
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, while moving 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.
The North East Link Authority will be at Yarra Junior Football League in Bulleen on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September from 10am until 4pm.
The team will also be at a shopping centre near you in the coming weeks– visit northeastlink.vic.gov.au for details.
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Shaun Leane
“The benefits for Melbourne’s east are huge, with improved travel times, better connections and a new noise standard that will make this section of the Eastern Freeway the quietest freeway in the state.”
“We’ve been listening to what the community has had to say and refining designs ahead of putting this project out to market within the first 100 days of a re-elected Andrews Labor Government