A major milestone has been reached on Victoria’s North East Link, with tunnel boring machine (TBM) Zelda breaking through in Bulleen.
This officially completes excavation on the first of two three-lane tunnels – the northbound tunnel.
Zelda is one of two TBMs building Victoria’s largest road tunnel from Watsonia to Bulleen.
TBM Gillian is continuing excavation of the southbound tunnel and is expected to break through in the coming months.
The tunnels will provide a direct route for up to 15,000 trucks each day, reducing travel times by up to 35 minutes between Melbourne’s north and east.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, highlighted the ways transport will benefit from the project.
“This is a really exciting milestone on this huge project that will transform the way we travel through Melbourne’s north east,” she said.
“North East Link will reduce travel times for commuters and freight, while taking trucks off local streets in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.”
More than 39,000 precast concrete segments have been installed inside the tunnels.
Crews are now building the road inside and installing electrical, lighting and safety systems.
Above ground, works are continuing on key connections into the tunnels and the Greensborough Road boulevard.
The North East Link is delivering three major road projects, including the new tunnels as well as upgrades on the M80 Ring Road and the Eastern Freeway.
In the north, construction is progressing on the M80 Ring Road Completion flyover bridge.
Traffic is expected to move onto the new Watsonia Road bridge in the coming months.
The North East Link is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($5 billion) and the Victorian Government ($21.21 billion), and will open to traffic in 2028.
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