Upgrades on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway and the North East Link project are progressing after the federal and state governments appointed two leading consortiums as the preferred bidders for the next major elements.

The Momentum consortium – comprising John Holland, Seymour Whyte, Jacobs and Mott Macdonald – has been selected as the preferred bidder for upgrades between Hoddle Street and Burke Road, including new lanes, connections to the Eastern Busway, and new walking and cycling paths.

The Synergy consortium – comprising CPB Contractors, BMD Constructions and Arup – has been selected to complete the Eastern Freeway Upgrades between Tram and Springvale roads, including new express lanes, upgraded noise walls and revitalised sections of the Koonung Creek Linear Park.

The Eastern Freeway will be completely overhauled from Hoddle Street to Springvale Road, adding new express lanes, modern traffic management technology.

Together, the three packages of Eastern Freeway works will add more than 45 kilometres of new lanes where they’re needed most, slashing travel times by up to 11 minutes and taking 5,000 trucks off local roads.

Major Road Projects Victoria will now work with both bidders ahead of contracts being awarded next year.

“Selecting preferred bidders for the next stages of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades is another important step in this project that will connect with the North East Link tunnels and make it easier to move around Melbourne,” says Federal Transport Minister Catherine King.

“Together, the three packages of Eastern Freeway works will add more than 45 kilometres of new lanes where they’re needed most, slashing travel times by up to 11 minutes.”

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