EastLink (Melbourne)
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EastLink Victoria |
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| Coordinates | 37°49′48″S 145°13′03.47″E / 37.83000°S 145.2176306°ECoordinates: 37°49′48″S 145°13′03.47″E / 37.83000°S 145.2176306°E |
| Type | Freeway |
| Location | Melbourne |
| Length | 39 km (24 mi) |
| Maintained by | ConnectEast |
| History | Completed 29 June 2008 |
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Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Victoria |
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M3 (2008–present)
EastLink is a tolled section of the M3 freeway linking a large area through the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It is a part of Melbourne's Metropolitan Ring Road project.
EastLink is electronically tolled with no cash booths, using a system developed by SICE. The SICE Tolling System is similar to (and interoperable with) the e-TAG system used on the CityLink tollway. EastLink was opened to traffic on Sunday 29 June 2008 and in conjunction with the opening, a month-long toll-free period occurred before regular tolling commenced on 27 July 2008.
The project was constructed by a joint venture of Australian construction companies Thiess and John Holland, with tolling system contracted to SICE, and mechanical and electrical work contracted to United Group Infrastructure. The final project cost was A$2.5 billion.
Signs are at the entrances and on the tollway direct to Ringwood, Dandenong, Frankston and Doncaster.
The road was originally shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan as the F35 Freeway.
The freeway has been a contentious issue, amid concerns over environmental damage and the possibility it would lead to a 'complete' metropolitan ring road. In October 1999 the Bracks Government announced that the freeway (which Labor had not promised at the election) had been scrapped. Instead the government promised to investigate a preferred route for the Rowville railway line and extend the 75 tram to Knox, of which neither have been fulfilled. However, in 'major policy about-face' the Bracks Government announced in August 2000 that they would seek federal funding for the freeway. To obtain funding the freeway would need to be classified as a road of 'national importance', despite the fact that it did not form part of the national highway grid. The 'U-turn' on the freeway was strongly criticised by opponents such as the Public Transport Users Association as it would result in public transport alternatives such as the Rowville railway line being scrapped.
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Wikipedia