Drivers are being urged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time, as the Eastern Freeway will be closed in both directions this weekend for essential upgrade works as part of the North East Link Project.
The closure will take place between Doncaster Road and Bulleen Road from 10:00 pm Friday, 7 November, until 5:00 am Monday, 10 November.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams says the closure will allow crews to safely remove the Estelle Street walking and cycling bridge, which is being replaced with a wider, safer structure scheduled to open in late 2025.
Major works and detours planned
Crews will also use the shutdown to complete piling, utility relocations, drainage, asphalt paving, and install new traffic technology at the Doncaster and Bulleen interchanges.
Entry ramps to the freeway at Chandler Highway (Ringwood-bound) and Elgar, Middleborough, Blackburn, and Springvale roads (city-bound) will be closed.
Detours will be in place via Doncaster, Bulleen, Thompsons, Manningham, Williamsons and Doncaster roads, with delays of up to 90 minutes expected.
To ease congestion, parking and stopping will be temporarily banned on Doncaster Road from Burke Road to Greythorn Road.
Right turns will also be restricted at key intersections, including Manningham Road into Thompsons Road and High Street, and Doncaster Road into Elgar and Tram roads.
Upgrades paving the way for North East Link
Williams says the works are a critical step in preparing for the connection between the Eastern Freeway and the North East Link tunnels in Bulleen.
“We’re getting on with delivering vital improvements to the Eastern Freeway as part of North East Link, which will transform travel through northeastern Melbourne,” Williams says.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades include new express lanes, managed motorway technology and Melbourne’s first dedicated busway.
Once complete, the freeway will connect to the North East Link tunnels, linking the east to the M80 Ring Road in Greensborough, thereby cutting travel times by up to 35 minutes and removing around 15,000 trucks from local roads daily.
Community benefits and completion timeline
Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Shaun Leane says the project will deliver lasting improvements for the community.
“North East Link and the upgrades to the Eastern Freeway will be a game-changer for our community, making journeys quicker and safer and taking thousands of trucks off our local roads,” Leane says.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades are expected to be completed by late 2028, with ongoing overnight closures and lane changes scheduled until the end of November to support bridge works.
Drivers are advised to follow detour signs and allow additional travel time throughout the construction period.
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