William Scott
The first of two tunnel boring machines on Melbourne’s North East Link has reached the 1km mark.
Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Zelda and Gillian are well on their way to digging the 6.5km tunnels – which will help take 15,000 trucks off local roads.
TBM Zelda is excavating the northbound tunnel and has completed 1km while TBM Gillian has just passed 700m on the southbound tunnel.
As they move forward, the 4,000 tonne machines are installing concrete segments made locally in Benalla, while concrete culverts made in Echuca are also being installed behind each TBM to form a service route for maintenance vehicles inside the tunnels.
In 2025, the TBMs will break through near Lower Plenty Road where on and off ramps are being built, before they relaunch underground and continue their journey towards Bulleen – with tunnelling expected to be complete in 2026.
The new twin tunnels will divert traffic below ground by up to 45m – cutting congestion on local roads and slashing travel times by up to 35 minutes.
More than 8,000 workers are currently working across the project – which will create 12,000 jobs before completion in 2028.
While the TBMs continue their journeys, crews are undertaking major upgrades along the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road to connect the freeways to the North East Link tunnels.
The North East Link tunnels, M80 Ring Road Completion and Eastern Freeway Upgrades are jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments and will be open in 2028.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Danny Pearson, said “The North East Link has been talked about for decades and works are powering ahead as we build the missing link in Melbourne’s road network – creating thousands of jobs in the process.”
State Member for Ivanhoe, Anthony Carbines, said, “We are getting on with building Victoria’s biggest road project which will take 15,000 trucks off local roads and move traffic underground rather than through local suburbs.”
State Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks, said, “North East Link will deliver 34km of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, make it easier and safer for locals to get around their suburbs in the North East.”
