Victoria's government in Australia has announced that a State-owned company will be set-up to collect tolls for the long-awaited North East Link with toll revenue going towards the cost of building and maintaining the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network. The North East Link will carry up to 135,000 vehicles daily, connect the M80 to an Eastern Freeway while slashing travel times by 35 minutes and taking 15,000 trucks off local roads.

Works will start soon to move more than 34km of gas, water and sewer pipes and drains and over 95 other utilities out of the way of north East Link making way for major construction next year.

North East Link tolls will be collected by State Tolling Corporation (STC) which will be responsible for fixing and collecting toll revenues for the project. The North East Link will be the first road in Victoria whose tolling rights are held by the State Government. The State-collected toll revenue will pay for long-term maintenance of North East Link including ensuring the safety and upkeep of the tunnels, road surface and roadside areas. The North East Link tolling agreements, including prices, locations, and any amendments, will be debated and tabled in parliament. Toll points and toll prices are expected to be finalized once the preferred bidder for the North East Link’s primary package has been selected later this year.