Getting on with the North East Link Tunnel
The North East Link Tunnel Project will slash travel times and free up roads for local trips. This project aims to fix the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network. A preferred bidder has been selected to deliver the tunnelling package.
Spark has been selected as the preferred bidder to deliver the tunnelling package. The successful bidder will construct the twin three-lane tunnels and key interchanges.
Spark comprises several well known civil engineering and construction companies across Australia, including WeBuild, GS Engineering and Construction, CPB Contractors, China Construction Oceania, Ventia, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments, DIF and Pacific Partnerships.
The North East Link is a significant road project that will create some of the below benefits:
- Thousands of local jobs
- Cut travel times for commuters and freight
- Take trucks off local roads
- Improve congestion and safety particularly for communities in Melbourne’s northern and eastern suburbs
The new North East Link tunnel will protect homes and sensitive environmental areas including the Yarra River, Banyule Flats and Warringal Parklands.
The tunnelling package will be delivered as a Public Private Partnership. The Victorian Government will now work with the preferred bidder to negotiate a final contract and finalise the concept design for the North East Link tunnel – ready to share details with the community before the end of the year.
Once the tunnelling package is awarded, the project will go out to market for other key elements of the North East Link tunnel including a massive overhaul of the Eastern Freeway, Melbourne’s first dedicated busway, the completion of the M80 Ring Road and more than 25 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths.
“This is another important step for the North East Link tunnel, as we continue to build the projects Victorians in the north east need to be better connected to services, jobs and opportunities,” Minister Allan said.
“Fixing the missing link will get trucks off local roads as well as providing a much-improved route for interstate, regional and metropolitan freight vehicles.”
North East Link will connect the M80 Ring Road to an upgraded Eastern Freeway, slashing travel times by up to 35 minutes, taking 15,000 trucks off local roads.
It will link key growth areas in the north and south-east, providing an efficient connection for up to 135,000 vehicles each day and allowing travel from Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs to the airport without stopping at a single traffic light.
A big focus is on creating local jobs for local people, with more than 10,000 jobs on the project and 10 per cent of total work hours to be done by apprentices, trainees or cadets as part of the Victorian Government’s Local Jobs First Policy.
This $15.8 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments, with construction on the tunnelling package to begin after the contract award later in the year.
ENDS
Thursday 24th June 2021
Read the Media Release here.
