General Information:

M3 is a motorway standard route in Melbourne's eastern and south eastern suburbs, linking the Melbourne CBD with the Mornington Peninsula. The Eastern Freeway is untolled, however the Eastlink section of M3, from Nunawading to Seaford uses an electronic distance based tolling system.

Eastlink:

Eastlink is made up of the Eastern Freeway Extension, Ringwood Bypass and Scoresby Freeway. 1

The Eastlink section of the route features 17 interchanges and also twin tunnels at Donvale / Ringwood, under the Mullum Mullum valley - the Melba Tunnel and the Mullum Mullum Tunnel. Each tunnel is 1.6km long, contain three lanes that are 3.5m wide with a height clearance for vehicles of 4.65m. The tunnels have a gradient of up to 5.5% and are located up to 53m from surface level. 2

The route also features 3 traffic lanes in each direction for 33km from the Eastern Freeway to Thompson Road at Carrum Downs, and also has 103 structures, including 88 bridges. 3

History:

• 1960s: Planning for Eastern Fwy and Scoresby Fwy (later Eastlink). 4
• 23 September 2002: The Bracks Government announced that it would amalgamate the Scoresby Freeway project with the Eastern Freeway Tunnels project. The combined project, was to be known as the Mitcham-Frankston Freeway. 5
• 14 April 2003: Government announces that the Mitcham-Frankston Fwy (now Eastlink) will be tolled. 6
• October 2004; The tender for construction of the project was awarded to ConnectEast. 1
• November 2004: Construction commences on Eastlink. 1
• 29 June 2008: Eastlink opens to traffic. 1
• 26 July 2008: Tolling comes into effect on Eastlink, with no tolling along EastLink between the Ringwood Bypass and Maroondah Highway. 1
• June 2008: MR83 replaced with M3 along Eastern Fwy, M3 introduced for the first time on what was the newly opened Eastlink

Eastbound			Westbound
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Precast Jersey Barriers: Precast jersey barriers for the interchange sidetrack, September 2005. Image © Viseth Uch			Construction Sign: Eastlink construction sign at Dandenong North, October 2005. Image © Viseth Uch
	Interchange Piling Works: Associated earthworks for the Eastlink interchange and surrounding roadway alterations for the Monash Fwy at Dandenong North, September 2005. Image © Viseth Uch			Approaching Police Road: Westbound on Monash Fwy after the main construction area of the Eastlink interchange at Dandenong North, October 2005. Image © Viseth Uch
	Approaching Jacksons Road Interchange: Eastbound approaching the interchange with Jacksons Road at Dandenong North, with construction works in the distance, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch			Interchange Piling Works: Associated earthworks for the Eastlink interchange and surrounding roadway alterations for the Monash Fwy at Dandenong North, October 2005. Image © Viseth Uch
	Jacksons Interchange: The Jacksons Rd interchange looking east along with temporary barriers and signage related to the Eastlink interchange works, Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch			Interchange Piling Works: Associated earthworks for the Eastlink interchange and surrounding roadway alterations for the Monash Fwy at Dandenong North, October 2005. Image © Viseth Uch
	Bridge Construction: Eastlink interchange bridge construction at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch			Police Road Interchange: The western extremity of the Eastlink interchange construction zone, October 2005. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastlink Works: Eastlink interchange works between the Jacksons Rd interchange and the Eastlink interchange at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch			Eastlink Interchange Construction Works: Approaching Police Road at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Construction Sign: Eastlink construction sign at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastlink Interchange: Almost full view of the Eastlink interchange looking east, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Bridge Construction: Eastlink interchange bridge construction at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Interchange Piling Works: Associated earthworks for the Eastlink interchange and surrounding roadway alterations for the Monash Fwy at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Bridge Construction: Eastlink interchange bridge construction, looking south, at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastlink Works: Eastlink interchange works at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastlink Works: Eastlink interchange works at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Bridge Construction: Eastlink interchange bridge construction at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastlink Works: Eastlink interchange works, looking south, at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Bridge Construction: Eastlink interchange bridge construction at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Bridge Construction: Eastlink interchange bridge construction at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Noise Barrier Installation: Cranes installing noisebarriers on the Monash Fwy at the Eastlink interchange in Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastlink Works: Eastlink interchange works at Dandenong North, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
	Eastern Extremity of Workzone: Eastbound on Monash Fwy as you begin to leave the workzone, November 2006. Image © Viseth Uch
Click here for construction photos at the Wellington Road interchange Click here for construction photos at the Princes Highway / Heatherton Road interchange

1 Maroondah City Council, Developing Maroondah, EastLink
2 Eastlink, Motorway Info
3 Linking Melbourne Authority: Projects, Eastlink, Facts & Figures
4 Tim Cole
5 Minister of Transport, Media Release, Bracks Government Announces Mitcham-Frankston Freeway Project, 23 September 2002
6 The Office of the Premier, Media Release, Mitcham-Frankston Freeway Must Be Tolled: Premier, 14 April 2003

Last updated: 14-Feb-2019 21:05

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