North East Link Eastern Freeway Upgrades Explained

Video Transcript

North East Link Eastern Freeway Upgrades Explained

[Vision: Aerial view of Eastern Freeway]

Sebastian - Technical Director, North East Link Authority

[Vision: Map of North East Link location]

Hi, I’m Seb, and I’m here to explain some of the detail around the massive expansion of the Eastern Freeway as part of the new North East Link Project. We’re overhauling the Eastern Freeway by increasing the capacity between Springvale Road and Chandler Highway.

[Vision: No tolls on the upgraded Eastern Freeway - up to 7 lanes]

This will almost double the size of the existing freeway with up the seven lanes in some sections, slashing congestion, getting rid of bottlenecks, and cutting travel time to the north, east and to the city.

[Vision: Artist’s impression of new freeway showing busway]

There will be completely separate express lanes for traffic travelling between Tram Road and Burke Road.

[Vision: Sebastian speaking]

The express lanes will separate through vehicles from vehicles entering and exiting the Eastern Freeway, reducing congestion and improving vehicle speeds.

[Vision: Aerial view showing location of new interchange and tunnel]

A new interchange will be constructed connecting the missing link to the Eastern Freeway.

[Vision: Aerial view of Eastern Freeway - peak traffic congestion]

This expansion will make a huge difference to travel times and speeds along the Eastern, particularly in the morning and afternoon peaks.

[Vision: Sebastian speaking]

Trips will be around 10 minutes faster with average speeds increasing from less than 30k/hour to around 70k/hour in some of the more heavily congested sections.

[Vision: Overhead speed signs]

We’re also building new technology to help the freeway work smarter.

[Vision: Artist’s impression of completed new freeway with overhead lane management]

The Eastern Freeway will be upgraded to a fully managed motorway with ramp signals, overhead lane management, and traffic monitoring.

[Vision: Aerial view of busy freeway today - car stopped]

This improves traffic flow with monitoring assisting in detecting any issues and getting traffic moving quickly again.

[Vision: Aerial view of freeway]

While we’ll be working within the boundaries of the current freeway as much as possible, there will be some changes that require us to go beyond the existing footprint.

[Vision: People discussing matters with community]

But we’ll work with the community to minimise these as much as possible.

[Vision: Workmen doing studies]

We are doing detailed planning in environmental studies to assist these effects, and make sure that any impacts are managed.

[Vision: Freeway should noise walls - aerial view of freeway]

We know there are concerns about traffic noise along the Eastern Freeway, so we’ll upgrade existing noise walls.

[Vision: Noise walls]

And we’ll be building new noise walls along some sections of the Eastern as part of these works.

[Vision: Aerial view of freeway]

And the freeway will remain a freeway.

[Vision: No tolls on the upgraded Eastern Freeway]

There will be no tolls as part of these works on the Eastern.

[Vision: NORTH EAST LINK PROJECT - northeastlink.vic.gov.au]

To find out more about how we’re clearing bottlenecks, and making the Eastern Freeway work smarter, visit our website.

[VICTORIA State Government]

[Speaker: Authorised by Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne]