North East Link
As part of the project, a 1.2km stretch of lowered road will be incorporated to create more open spaces with green land bridges. Credit: John Cooke.

The Government of Victoria in Australia has released detailed designs, including 3D videos, images and maps, for the A$15.8bn ($11.2bn) North East Link project.

The new design was updated according to community feedback. It features more open space with new green bridges, a new noise standard and 25km of new upgraded walking and cycling paths.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said: “We’ve already removed 26 dangerous and congested level crossings and we’re building the Metro and West Gate tunnels, but there’s still more to do. Only Labor will deliver the North East Link and give local roads back to locals.

“These designs show what North East Link will look like, how it will improve local access, open up new public spaces and how it will be built to the toughest noise requirements.”

“We said we’d do the work to get this project ready to go within the first 100 days of a re-elected Labor Government, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

The twin three-lane tunnels have now been extended and are now 5.3km-long.

A 1.2km stretch of lowered road will also be incorporated in the project to minimise the visual impact and create more open spaces with green land bridges.

A noise standard of 63 decibels has been introduced for North East Link. It will also feature improved noise walls alongside the West Gate Tunnel.

Minister for roads and road safety Luke Donnellan said: “North East Link will be Victoria’s longest road tunnel, with massive land bridges and a series of high-tech interchanges to minimise impacts on homes, businesses and environmentally sensitive areas.

“These designs show the community what North East Link will look like, how it will improve local access, open up new public spaces and how it will be built to the toughest noise requirements in our state’s history.”