Andrews Government says North East Link would be financial boon for Victoria

THE $16.5 billion North East Link toll road would deliver a greater economic benefit to Victoria than its cost and ­create 10,300 jobs ­during ­construction.

THE $16.5 billion North East Link toll road would deliver a greater economic benefit to Victoria than its cost and ­create 10,300 jobs ­during ­construction.

That’s the business case made by the Andrews Government for the highway, which would connect the M80 Ring Road in Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway in ­Bulleen.

Intensifying his big sell of the project, which will be Labor’s core roads pledge at the November state election, Premier Daniel Andrews will today declare it “stacks up”.

“It will deliver $1.30 for every dollar invested, create more than 10,000 jobs and most importantly, give local roads back to local residents,” he said.

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Daniel Andrews claims the North East Link will create more than 10,000 jobs.

“People have talked about this project for decades but the time for talk is over.

“We’re ready to put this massive ­congestion-busting project out to market within 100 days after the election.”

If wider economic benefits were included in the business case, the return would be $1.40 for every $1, the government said.

It will argue the ­project also means people in the city’s northeast will have 56,000 “job opportunities” from the project.

The government will not reveal the size of the tolls used in the business case, which has not yet been released in full, but the Sunday Herald Sun believes they would be in line with other Melbourne tolls.

An artist’s impression of the Eastern Freeway interchange with North East Link.

The state Opposition wants to build the cross-city East West Link tunnel before embarking on a North East Link.

But Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said that choice was a “dud”, adding: “We’re taking this massive project to an election so Victorians can have their say.”

Mr Andrews dumped the East West Link when Labor won the 2014 election, despite the Auditor-General later finding about $1.2 billion had ­already been spent.

Labor claimed the business case for the EWL didn’t stack up.

The North East Link will connect the M80 with the Eastern Fwy.

The North East Link will take 15,000 trucks off suburban roads daily and cut travel times by up to 30 minutes between the Ring Road and the Eastern Freeway.

As revealed by the Sunday Herald Sun, the Eastern Freeway will be widened to 18 lanes in parts to streamline traffic near the merge.

The government will argue that the new toll road will take 32,000 vehicles a day off Greensborough Rd, 14,000 off Fitzsimons Lane, 9000 off Rosanna Rd and 8000 off Manningham Rd.

The business case will be submitted to Infrastructure Australia today.

The government said if it was re-elected this year, construction on the North East Link would start in 2020, with the road to open in 2027.

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