Tunnelling works set to begin on North East Link twin tunnels

The jointly funded North East Link development in Victoria is a step closer to providing improved travel times and removing trucks off local roads as it reaches another construction milestone. 

Segments of the first massive tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will dig the twin road tunnels have been lowered into the ground at the Watsonia site by a 550-tonne gantry crane. 

Once fully assembled, the two TBMs will each weigh 4,000 tonnes and will be 90 metre long and over 15 metres wide. 

“This is another significant milestone for North East Link – getting us closer to moving trucks off local roads and slashing travel times across the north-east. 

“We’re getting on with assembling TBMs on site so tunnelling can kick off in the coming months – building the longer 6.5-kilometre tunnels the community asked for,” VIC Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said. 

The TBMs are due to start digging the 6.5-kilometre twin tunnels in mid-2024, working their way south from Watsonia toward Bulleen. Crews will then begin installing tunnel walls made up of about 44,000 individual concrete segments manufactured locally in Benalla. 

With the completion of the TBM launch box in Watsonia, works are now underway on the underground box structures near Lower Plenty Road and Manningham Road where the TBMs will begin their journey south. 

“We are powering ahead with North East Link as we assemble two of the largest TBMs in the southern hemisphere,” Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines said. 

“More than 5,000 workers are on the ground now helping deliver North East Link, which will transform the way people move around Melbourne’s north east,” Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks said. 

Drivers in Bulleen will also notice changes in how Bulleen Road, Manningham Road and Bridge Street are used from late March, which will enable further works to continue on the Manningham interchange. These changes will be in place for up to two years to keep traffic moving during the construction of North East Link. 

In addition, barriers and worksites are being established along the Eastern Freeway and M80 Ring Road where crews will be upgrading the freeway to connect to the North East Link tunnels. 

“This is a valuable step towards constructing a new motorway between the M80 Ring Road at Greensborough and the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen Road. 

“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,” Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

Aerial view looking north of the tunnel portal and Bulleen Road (source: Victoria's Big Build)

The overall North East Link tunnels project will deliver: 

• Longer 6.5-kilometre tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen 
• Simpler interchanges at Lower Plenty Road, Manningham Road and Eastern Freeway 
• Five MCGs of parklands along Banyule Creek at Borlase Reserve 
• A new 2-kilometre tree-lined boulevard for Greensborough Road 
• A 2-hectare Yarra Link green bridge over Bulleen Road 
• Three new wetlands along the Yarra River and Koonung Creek in Bulleen and Balwyn North 

The North East Link Program brings together three major road projects, including the Eastern Freeway Upgrades and M80 Ring Road Completion projects. 

This program of works aims to connect the Eastern Freeway to the new 6.5-kilometre North East Link tunnels from Bulleen to Watsonia, which will ultimately link Melbourne’s east up to the M80 Ring Road in Greensborough. 

The Program will also deliver Melbourne’s first dedicated busway and more than 34 kilometres of walking and cycling paths built in 16 suburbs across the north-east. 

All three major projects are expected to open to traffic in 2028. 

“Not only will this project be a game-changer for commuters, it’s also providing a welcome jobs and economic boost for the region during construction. 

“More than 5,000 workers are already working across North East Link, the Eastern Freeway Upgrade and M80 Ring Road – with an incredible 12,000 jobs to be created over the life of the projects,” Federal Member for Jagajaga Kate Thwaites said. 

The Spark consortium was awarded the $11.1 billion contract to deliver the North East Link tunnels. The consortium is comprised of WeBuild, CPB Contractors, GS Engineering and Construction, Chine Construction Oceania, Ventia, Capella Capital, John Laing, DIF and Pacific Partners. 

AMA, which is made up of Acciona Construction Australia, AECOM Australia and MACA Civil, was awarded the $3.8 billion contract to undertake the M80 Ring Road Completion. 

Lastly, the Nexus consortium was appointed to deliver the first part of the $5.7 billion Easter Freeway Upgrades from Burke to Tram roads. The consortium includes Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction, Symal Infrastructure, WSP Australia and Arcadis Australia. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build – North East Link (1, 2, 3); Infrastructure Magazine; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government