Victorian transport infrastructure minister Danny Pearson and federal Member of Jagajaga Kate Thwaites were on site in Melbourne northern suburb Watsonia, as segments of the first tunnel boring machine (TBM) being used for the North East Link tunnels were lowered into the ground.
“This is another significant milestone for the North East Link, getting us closer to moving trucks off local roads and slashing travel times across the north-east,” Pearson says.
“We’re getting on with assembling TBMs on site so tunnelling can kick off in the coming months – building the longer 6.5km tunnels the community asked for.”
When assembled, the 4,000 tonne TBMs will work their way from Watsonia to Bulleen while crews begin installing tunnel walls manufactured in Benalla.
Across Melbourne’s north-east, a 200-metre-long TBM launch box in Watsonia has been set up, with work on a new box structure near Lower Plenty and Manningham roads already commencing.
“This is a valuable step towards constructing a new motorway between the M80 Ring Road at Greensborough and the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen Road,” federal transport and infrastructure minister Catherine King says.
“The project will provide Melbourne with a complete orbital road connection for the first time, reducing travel times for both freight and commuter traffic and taking trucks off the local streets in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.”
Barriers and worksites are also being set up along the Eastern Freeway and M80 Ring Road before upgrade works commence on the North East Link’s neighbouring arterials.
The Victorian government says the North East Link, along with the M80 Ring Road and Eastern Freeway upgrades, are expected to be completed by 2028.