What North East Link Project does

North East Link Project is a Victorian State Government infrastructure initiative delivering the largest road investment ever made in Melbourne's north east. The program comprises three integrated road projects: 6.5km of twin tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen that complete the city's missing freeway link, major upgrades to the Eastern Freeway, and completion of the M80 Ring Road. Supporting deliverables include the Yarra Link green bridge, walking and cycling pathways, Hurstbridge Line rail works, sports facility upgrades, the North East Community Fund, and an environmental program planting more than 30,000 trees. End beneficiaries are Melbourne commuters and freight operators, with projected outcomes of removing 15,000 trucks from local roads daily and reducing travel times by up to 35 minutes once the integrated network opens in 2028.

The project deploys Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology for the tunnel excavation, with TBM Gillian having completed breakthrough of the southbound tunnel at Bulleen in June 2026. Smart technology is being integrated into the Eastern Freeway and M80 Ring Road upgrades. Construction will create more than 12,000 direct jobs, making it one of the largest workforce build-outs currently underway in Victoria.

Unlike a commercial enterprise, North East Link operates on a public infrastructure funding model: it is wholly owned, financed, and delivered by the State Government of Victoria through its Big Build infrastructure program, with no ticket pricing, tolls, or commercial revenue stream. End users access the completed road network free of charge. The go-to-market is government-led public engagement via community liaison groups, the official Victoria's Big Build channels, social media platforms, public events, and a 24/7 contact centre — not commercial sales motions.

Name

North East Link Project

Legal name

North East Link Project

Website

https://www.northeastlink.vic.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

North East Link Project is a Victorian State Government infrastructure program delivering 6.5km of twin tunnels, Eastern Freeway upgrades, and M80 Ring Road completion in Melbourne, scheduled to open in 2028 and funded entirely through public infrastructure budgets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Road Infrastructure Construction

NAICS

Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (2373)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Tunnel Construction (Road, Rail, Utility) (IMAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interchanges, Ramps & Flyovers Construction (IMAFAEAD)

Keywords

• Road infrastructure construction
• Public transport infrastructure
• Tunnel construction
• Freeway network development
• Civil engineering projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Infrastructure Funding: Government-funded infrastructure project financed through state government budget and public funds. No commercial revenue model as this is a public road infrastructure project.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North East Link Project delivers three integrated major road projects as part of Victoria's Big Build program: the 6.5km twin tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen (North East Link Tunnels), upgrades to the Eastern Freeway, and completion of the M80 Ring Road. The project also includes supporting assets such as the Yarra Link green bridge, walking and cycling connections, Hurstbridge Line rail works, community grants, sports upgrades, and a 30,000+ tree planting program. All components are scheduled to open in 2028.

Product overview

North East Link is a government infrastructure program comprising three major road projects: the 6.5km North East Link Tunnels (twin tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen), Eastern Freeway Upgrades, and M80 Ring Road Completion. These projects are delivered as an integrated program under Victoria's Big Build initiative, with all components scheduled to open in 2028. Supporting infrastructure includes the Yarra Link green bridge, walking and cycling pathways, Hurstbridge Line rail works, sports facility upgrades, and environmental programs including a 30,000-tree planting initiative. The program will create over 12,000 direct jobs and is designed to fix the missing link in Melbourne's freeway network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• North East Link Tunnels 6.5km twin tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen that form the missing link in Melbourne's freeway network, designed to reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes and remove 15,000 trucks from local roads daily. Built for Melbourne commuters and freight operators.
• Eastern Freeway Upgrades Major upgrade to the Eastern Freeway including new lanes, smart technology, and seamless connection to North East Link tunnels, for commuters and freight operators in Melbourne's east.
• M80 Ring Road Completion Completion and upgrade of the M80 Ring Road including new lanes, smart technology, and interchange improvements at Ring Road and Greensborough Road, for Melbourne's north west traffic.
• Yarra Link Green Bridge A new green bridge spanning across the Southern Portal in Bulleen, providing walking and cycling connections and recreational space for local communities.
• Walking and Cycling Connections Extensive walking and cycling pathways connecting communities across the north east, including shared user paths along the Eastern Freeway corridor, for active transport users.
• Hurstbridge Line Upgrades Rail infrastructure works supporting the Hurstbridge Line alongside North East Link road works, for rail commuters in Melbourne's north east.
• Greener North East Tree Planting Program Environmental sustainability initiative planting more than 30,000 trees in the north east region as part of project environment commitments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces travel times by up to 35 minutes
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• West Gate Tunnel Project: Major road tunnel project in Melbourne delivered under the same Victoria's Big Build program. Most direct comparable given shared government ownership, similar tunneling scope, and integrated delivery alongside NEL.
• WestConnex: Sydney's largest road infrastructure project comprising twin tunnels and motorway upgrades. Closest interstate parallel in scale, tunneling technology, and urban freeway completion mandate.
• Melbourne Metro Tunnel: Twin rail tunnels through central Melbourne delivered under Victoria's Big Build. Comparable in tunneling technology, urban delivery complexity, and integrated transport program structure.
• Suburban Rail Loop: Major rail orbital project in Melbourne under the same Big Build program. Comparable as a generational Victorian state government infrastructure program targeting connectivity and network integration.
• Level Crossing Removal Project: Victorian state government program removing road-rail level crossings. Comparable as a coordinated, multi-site infrastructure delivery entity under Big Build with similar community engagement and stakeholder management.
• NorthConnex: Sydney road tunnel linking the M1 and M2 motorways. Comparable as a completed Australian road tunnel megaproject with similar twin-bore urban tunneling scope and freight-routing objectives.
• Cross River Rail: Brisbane's largest rail infrastructure project involving twin tunnels under the Brisbane River. Comparable as a major Australian state-government megaproject with tunneling and urban integration challenges.
• Sydney Metro: Australia's largest public transport project delivering new metro rail and tunnels across Sydney. Comparable as a multi-stage, government-funded megaproject with tunneling and integrated network delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Transurban: Largest toll road operator in Melbourne and Australia, with stakes in CityLink and WestConnex. Comparable as the broader incumbent operating the road infrastructure NEL will integrate with.

Regional players

• EastLink (ConnectEast): Melbourne's eastern orbital toll road. Comparable as a Victorian urban motorway asset serving similar north-south and east-west commuter corridors, though NEL will integrate with rather than compete against it.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bigbuildvic
• Facebookfacebook.com/nelpvic
• Instagraminstagram.com/bigbuildvic
• Xx.com/nelpvic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North East Link Project