$110 million in Budget to put North East Link in the fast lane

NORTH EAST link plans will be put in the fast lane in the State Budget, with the Andrews Government pledging to have the project out to market within 100 days if re-elected.

PLANS for the North East Link will be fast-tracked in the next state Budget, with the Andrews Government pledging to have the project out to market within 100 days if re-elected.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the state government has put aside $110 million in the 2018-19 Budget to ensure the detailed planning and design of the new road is completed by the end of the year.

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Premier Daniel Andrews will then take the design to the election and, if successful, will start procurement for the massive infrastructure project in the first months of a new term. “The choice at this year’s election could not be clearer — only Labor will build the North East Link,” Mr Andrews said.

Artist impression of the North East Link.

Late last year the government announced its preferred path for the $16.5 billion toll route, with the 26km stretch of road to connect the M80 in Greensborough with the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen.

A 5km tunnel will start at Bulleen Rd and travel under the Yarra River to protect parkland in the project’s path.

Once completed, journey times between Melbourne’s north and south are expected to be cut by up to 30 minutes in each direction, and motorists from the south and east will have an easier trip to the airport at Tullamarine.

The corridor is also forecast to tackle congestion on suburban roads by removing 15,000 trucks and more than 9000 vehicles from traffic hot spots across Melbourne’s northeast.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the Andrews Government was giving local roads back to local drivers. “This project has been talked about for decades and is independently assessed as Victoria’s most-needed transport infrastructure project,” he said.

A further $3.12 million has been put aside in this year’s Budget to improve another traffic hotspot in the northeast.

Ivanhoe MP Anthony Carbines said: “While North East Link will provide a long-term solution, our community needs traffic relief now — that’s why I’ve fought hard to secure new upgrades to improve traffic flow and pedestrian access to Rosanna Rd.”

“This project has been talked about for decades and is independently assessed as Victoria’s most needed transport infrastructure project.,” he said.

Another $3.12 million has been put aside in this year’s State Budget to improve another traffic hotspot in the northeast, with upgrades on Rosanna Rd to tackle congestion and driver safety.

“While North East Link will provide a long-term solution, our community needs traffic relief now — that’s why I’ve fought hard to secure new upgrades to improve traffic flow and pedestrian access to Rosanna Road,” Ivanhoe MP Anthony Carbines said.