North East Link Primary Package PPP

Fixing the missing link in Melbourne's freeway network

The North East Link Tunnels PPP is Victoria’s biggest road project and Australia’s largest PPP. It includes 6.5km three lane twin tunnels, with interchanges and intelligent transport systems connecting the Metropolitan ring road (M80) to the Eastern Freeway (M3), completing a ring road around Melbourne.

Tunnelling started in August 2024, two years after construction started in 2022, with the first of two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig the 6.5km tunnels between Watsonia and Bulleen station. More than 100 tunnel workers received specialised training to work below ground and the tunnels will be built using 100 per cent renewable energy.

More than 6,700 people work on the project as at August 2024, with 12,000 jobs expected to be created before completion in 2028. When finished, the project will benefit the growing population of north-east Melbourne as traffic is removed from local roads, access to the Eastern Freeway is substantially improved, cycling paths are upgraded and new community spaces are created.

Up to 135,000 vehicles will use North East Link each day, which will help to take 15,000 trucks off local roads and skip 18 traffic lights on a trip to the airport. 

The North East Link Tunnels PPP is being delivered by the Spark Consortium which includes CIMIC Group companies, Pacific Partnerships and CPB Contractors, as well as essential services company Ventia and other partners. Spark will deliver design and construction of the twin tunnels, which are expected to start operation in 2028.

Spark will operate and maintain the North East Link Tunnels with consortium member Ventia for a 25-year term.

The project’s tunnels are creating more open space for new parklands and wetlands, equivalent to 50 Melbourne Cricket Grounds.