Victoria’s $15.8 billion North East Link is moving forward, with the project already put out to market to find builders that will deliver the State’s largest road project.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are being called for the $200 million early works package. The contract is anticipated to be awarded by the end of 2019 and works expected to commence in 2020 once planning and environmental approvals are already in place.
EOIs are also being sought after for the massive $7-9 billion primary package that includes building the North East Link tunnels. The procurement process for this package of works is expected to take up to 18 months to complete.
In September of this year, the detailed design for the North East Link was released for public consultation.
Approximately 10,300 jobs are expected to be created during the construction of the North East Link as well as deliver up to $1.30 to the Victorian economy for every dollar invested towards the project.
The North East Link is the missing link that will connect the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road and once it is completed, it will take up to 15,000 trucks off local roads as well as slash travel times by about 30 minutes.
“North East Link will take 15,000 trucks off local roads in our community and provide a long term solution to traffic congestion on our roads,” Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks said.
This project is also expected to give the local roads back to the local community by taking up to 32,000 vehicles a day off of Greensborough Road as well as 14,000 from Fitzsimons Lane, 9,000 from Rosanna Road and 8,000 from Manningham Road.
“People that use Rosanna Road have waited for this project for decades - now we’re getting on with the job to deliver North East Link,” Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
Construction on the North East Link is anticipated to begin in 2020 and open to traffic by 2027.
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Source: Premier of Victoria; North East Link Project; The Age