Two preferred bidders for the significant upgrades to Victoria’s Eastern Freeway have been selected, with separate consortia selected to manage different sections of the project.
The Eastern Freeway is set to be overhauled from Hoddle Street to Springvale Road. Three packages of works will add more than 45 kilometres of new lanes and cut travel times by up to 11 minutes.
The Synergy consortium – which comprises of CPB Contractors, BMD Constructions and Arup – will complete Eastern Freeway upgrades between Tram and Springvale roads, including new express lanes, upgraded noise walls and revitalised sections of the Koonung Creek Linear Park.
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The Momentum consortium – which comprises of John Holland, Seymour Whyte, Jacobs and Mott Macdonald – has been selected as the preferred bidder for upgrades between Hoddle Street and Burke Road, including new lanes, connections to the Eastern Busway, and new walking and cycling paths.
The Eastern Freeway works are set to be completed alongside the North East Link tunnel works, with both projects set to be completed in 2028. Together they will remove 15,000 trucks off local roads and save up to 35 minutes in travel time between the eastern and outer northern regions of Melbourne.
Tunnel boring is currently underway on the North East Link project, with machines currently digging under Yallambie.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King says the Major Road Projects Victoria will now work with the preferred bidders ahead of contracts being awarded next year.
“Selecting preferred bidders for the next stages of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades is another important step in this project that will connect with the North East Link tunnels and make it easier to move around Melbourne,” King says.
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