Tunnelling is powering ahead on the Allan Labor Government’s North East Link – with the first of two  4,000 t TBM having tunnelled more than one kilometre.

The TBMs Zelda and Gillian are digging - around 10m per day and as deep as 45m underground - the 6.5-km tunnels, which will cut congestion on Melbourne local roads and slashing travel times by up to 35 minutes: TBM Zelda is excavating the northbound tunnel and has completed 1020m of 5098m total installing 4080 segments of 21,732 total; TBM Gillian has just driven 765m of 4948m total on the southbound tunnel, installing 3016 segments of 21,090 total.

The concrete segments are made locally in Benalla, while concrete culverts made in Echuca are also being installed behind each TBM to form a service route for maintenance vehicles inside the tunnels.

In 2025 the TBMs will break through near Lower Plenty Road where on and off ramps are being built, before they relaunch underground and continue their journey towards Bulleen – with tunnelling expected to be complete in 2026. The Spark Joint Venture is delivering the North East Link tunnels for the Victorian Government.  

While the TBMs continue their journeys, crews are undertaking major upgrades along the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road to connect the freeways to the North East Link tunnels.

The North East Link tunnels, M80 Ring Road Completion and Eastern Freeway Upgrades are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments and will be open in 2028.

For further information on the project click here and au/36 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/ and https://www.premier.vic.gov.au. 01/25.