The North East Link Authority, on behalf of the Victorian Government, has published a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to deliver the Primary Package of North East Link.

North East Link comprises a series of roadworks that will complete the missing link in Melbourne’s orbital freeway, to the north-east of the city centre. It involves an upgrade to the M80 Ring Road for approximately 2km; the construction of a new 11km freeway, twin three-lane tunnels, approximately 6km in length passing under the Yarra River and Banyule Flats, and five new interchanges, and a major upgrade to approximately 10km of the Eastern Freeway, with a further upgrade to 7km between Bulleen Road and Merri Creek. It is the largest investment in a road project in the history of Victoria, a state in the south-east of Australia.

Procured as an availability public private partnership, the Primary Package includes the construction of the twin tunnels, submission of a concept design for aspects of North East Link and on-going responsibility for operating and maintaining the entire North East Link corridor. The total investment required is estimated to be between AUD7 and 9 billion (US$5.1 and 6.5 billion).

The RFEOI is the first step in an anticipated 18-month procurement process. Following the reception of expressions of interest, the Authority will create a shortlist of potential bidders that will be invited to submit detailed tenders as planning and environment requirements become clear. 

Construction is expected to start in 2020 after the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process is complete and planning approvals have been received. North East Link is scheduled to open in 2027.

Once built, the missing link is projected to take 63,000 vehicles off local roads every day and cut travel times by up to 30 minutes. An approximately 10km dedicated busway will deliver 30% travel time savings for buses.

An RFEOI has also been issued for the AUD200 million (US$144.8 million) Early Works package. The selected Managing Contractor will undertake critical enabling works for the Link, minimising critical interfaces to de-risk North East Link and facilitating efficient and value for money delivery. Construction is also expected to start in 2020 after environmental and planning approvals are in place. 

The submission deadline for the Primary Package RFEOI is 10 May 2019. For information on how to respond, see the Business Opportunity.