Speed limits will be reduced for five years on the Eastern Freeway

The freeway, which is used by 140,000 motorists a day, will have its speed limit reduced while communities in Melbourne’s northeast have been warned they face years of upheaval.

Renders showing updated designs for the North East Link Eastern Freeway upgrade.

Speed limits along parts of the Eastern Freeway will reduce to 80km/h for the next five years as the $18bn North East Link shifts into gear.

And new night-time limits will force motorists to slow to 40km/h as they drive past construction sites.

The Eastern Freeway, which is used by 140,000 motorists a day, is being progressively upgraded as part of the North East Link. It will be widened from 12 to 16 lanes in some sections.

Detailed designs of the first 11km stage of the upgrades – between Burke and Tram roads – have been released for public comment, showing how two express bus lanes will ­operate on the northern side of the busy corridor.

A design showing how Koonung Creek reserve is set to look.

Works begin early in the New Year and the government says no existing lanes will close during the day for that stage of the upgrade, although night closures are expected.

The next stages, from Hoddle St to Burke Rd, and then from Tram Rd to Springvale Rd, are expected to begin in 2025 and be staggered so the whole project opens at about the same time in 2028.

In total, 45km of lanes will be added, as well as new technology for lane merging.

The project is expected to save motorists 11 minutes.

Images showing how the North East Link will connect to the M80 have also been ­released, including plans for a sweeping elevated road bridge between the Greensborough bypass and the Metropolitan Ring Rd, and a road trench at Grimshaw Rd.

The Herald Sun can reveal that alterations to the plans in Watsonia to keep a local road open required an extra three homes to be acquired by the state, bringing the total number acquired to 36.

Renders for the North East Link Eastern Freeway upgrade.

About 100 businesses, largely in a Bulleen industrial precinct, have also been bought to make way for tunnelling works.

Once the North East Link opens in 2028 about 135,000 vehicles are expected to use the new tolled route.

Local communities have been warned about the upheaval they face for the next five years, but the government promises new walking and cycling tracks, as well as a ­reduced number of trucks on local streets, once it is open.

Car trips from the east to the north of Melbourne are also expected to be up to 35 minutes quicker.

As part of the Eastern Freeway upgrade between Burke and Tram roads, two thirds of Koonung Creek Reserve will be close for construction compounds used by 700 workers, while a “temporary diversion will keep the Koonung Creek Trail connected”.

Images showing what the reopened reserve will look like after 2028 have also been ­released.

New noise walls are being installed along the first 11km of the freeway upgrade, with a 58-decibel standard.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said this was a Victorian first to give residents better protection from traffic noise at night.

“We’re getting ready to ­deliver the first major ­upgrades to the Eastern Freeway since the 1990s, building Melbourne’s first dedicated busway, slashing travel times and connecting people to the new North East Link tunnels,” he said.

Maps and detailed designs for other sections of the freeway widening are set to be ­released next year.

Other North East Link ­designs, including for the 6.5km tunnels that will be dug progressively starting from next year, have ­already been released.

They include plans for a massive spaghetti junction being built at the southern end of the project.

Some road closures have already occurred overnight to prepare nearby roads in Watsonia, Macleod and ­Yallambie.

A huge conveyor belt has been ­installed across Greenborough Rd.

Major Road Projects Victoria chief executive Duncan ­Elliott said when work crews began to erect barriers and construction sites along the Eastern Freeway later this year, between Burke and Doncaster roads, speed limits would be reduced.

“We thank everyone for their patience while we get on with this important work to slash travel times by 35 minutes and take 15,000 trucks off local roads a day across the north east,” he said.