The promise of a continuous active transport link through Melbourne’s east along the freeway corridor has moved closer to realisation.
The long-sought connection will be delivered by the North East Link project with construction starting next year.
This week the formal concept designs, which are to be submitted for environmental and planning approvals, were released for public consultation.
They show in detail the proposed 4.7 kilometres of new and upgraded paths for bike riders and walkers, including a new bridge over the Yarra River in Kew.
When completed, riders will be able to travel the entire freeway corridor from Clifton Hill to Springvale without stopping at a single set of lights.
The new trail starts near the Merri Creek and heads alongside the Eastern Freeway to the Chandler Highway, where it joins the existing Main Yarra Trail.
There will be new connections under Yarra Boulevard and Chandler Highway that avoid hills and busy road crossings.
Significant upgrades will be made to the trail as it proceeds east, including a realignment to avoid the sharp gradient at Bedford Road and lighting improvements to the underpass at Wilsmere Park.
Along the Kew Golf Club, a retaining wall will be constructed to stabilise the embankment that supports the path and to enable widening from 2 to 3 metres, with new railings and path surface.
At Bourke Road a new alternative connection to the Koonung Creek Trail is to be created with a link under the Bourke Road Bridge beside the freeway, slicing 700 metres off the journey further east.
The changes will benefit commuting and recreational riders alike, and will create a new, direct route into the city which will benefit residents in Kew, Alphington, Kew East, Idaho East, Balwyn North, Bulleen and Doncaster.
The new trail and upgrades will be delivered in conjunction with works to add six kilometres of new Eastern Busway lanes along the Eastern Freeway for faster, more reliable trips to and from the city, including access for local bus routes at Chandler Highway.
To fit in the new bus lanes, the freeway centre median is being removed with the traffic lanes moving inward, enabling the freeway cross-section to stay the same width, and reserving space for the bike infrastructure along the northern edge.
To view the design documentation, and have your say, visit https://engage.vic.gov.au/eastern-freeway-upgrades-hoddle-street-to-burke-road and respond prior to 16 November 2025.
The most critical addition within the project is the new bridge over the Yarra River, 4 metres wide with a carefully positioned viewing platform allowing views over the river and park.
In this most recent design the bridge has been made lighter so that it can be craned into place from the existing freeway bridge, thus minimising the amount of construction activity below on the riverbank.
Separate paths for pedestrians and bike riders will be built for the popular walking area at Fairlea Reserve, including the River Circuit Trail.
When construction starts next year, it is expected that the new bike infrastructure will be built in conjunction with the new busway as the project moves along the freeway.
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