$15.8b North East Link to be fully funded under Labor, Andrews pledges

Victoria’s biggest road project North East Link will be put out to market on Monday for companies to bid to build it if Labor wins the election.

Victoria’s biggest road project will be fully funded by Labor if it wins Saturday’s state election, in yet another mammoth spending commitment.

Ahead of the major parties releasing their election costings this afternoon, Premier Daniel Andrews revealed Labor had budgeted to cover the cost of the $15.8 billion North East Link.

He said Victoria would accept the Commonwealth’s $1.75 billion contribution but would not need any further cash from the federal government or the private sector.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his wife Catherine campaigning. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

If Labor wins a second term, Mr Andrews said the project — which is the missing link in Melbourne’s Metropolitan Ring Road — would be put out to market on Monday for companies to bid to build it.

“A vote for Labor means North East Link starts on Monday,” he said.

The North East Link will be a toll road but Mr Andrews would not be drawn on where the toll revenue will go, saying Treasurer Tim Pallas would provide full details this afternoon.

The project is expected to create 10,000 jobs and take 15,000 trucks off local roads in Melbourne’s northeast.

A six-lane, 5.3km tunnel will be built connecting to the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen, with local connections at Manningham Road and Lower Plenty Road, before hooking up to the M80 Ring Road at Greensborough.

Construction would start in 2020 and be finished by 2027 under Labor’s plan.

“North East Link will give local roads back to local residents and only Labor will deliver it,” Mr Andrews said.

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