Road Photos & Information: Victoria
Eastern Freeway (Metropolitan Route 83) (Decommissioned)
Statistics:
- Length:
- 18 km
- Termini:
- Eastern: Springvale Rd (MR40), Nunawading
- Western: Alexandra Pde (Eastern Hwy) (MR83) and Gold St, Collingwood
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Collingwood, Clifton Hill, Fairfield, Kew, Kew East, Balwyn North, Doncaster, Box Hill North, Blackburn North and Nunawading
Route Numbering:
- Current: M3
- Former: 83 F83
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- Freeway 1830
General Information:
The Eastern Freeway links the Melbourne CBD with the city's eastern suburbs. When EastLink opened in June 2008, Metropolitan Route 83 was decommissioned along the Eastern Freeway and the M3 route number was implemented along the full length of both the Eastern Freeway and EastLink.
The Eastern Freeway was initially intended to be designated as the F19 route. 2 When the freeway was constructed in the 1970s, the design included provisions for a rail line. Some tunnelling work near Hoddle Street began during this time, and overpasses were also built to accommodate the future rail infrastructure. 3
History:
- 1960s: Planning for Eastern Fwy and Scoresby Fwy (later EastLink). 4
- 1970s: Construction begins on Eastern Freeway. 5
- 1984: Eastern Fwy extended from Templestowe to Doncaster Rd in Doncaster. 4
- October 1995: Work on the Eastern Freeway from Bulleen Road to Doncaster Road commences. 6
- February 1996: Worn on the Eastern Freeway from Doncaster Road to Springvale Road commences. 6
- September 1997: Eastern Freeway from Bulleen Road to Doncaster Road extension completed. 6
- December 1997: Extension of the Eastern Freeway from Doncaster Road to Springvale Road was completed, and was was opened by the then Premier, Jeff Kennett. 7
- 04 May 1999: Funding allocated for the Eastern Freeway extension from Springvale Road to Ringwood. 8
- February 2000: Construction commences on Mitcham Road (MR36) bridge at Donvale. 7
- 13 October 2000: The then Premier, Steve Bracks announced a $326 million extension of the Eastern Freeway, from Springvale Road to Ringwood, which features a 1.5 km tunnel in the Mullum Mullum valley. 10
- 22 February 2001: Mitcham Road (MR36) bridge opens to traffic. 7
- 26 March 2002: Official opening of the Park Road bridge in Donvale. 11
- 23 September 2002: The Bracks Government today 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. 12
- June 2008: MR83 replaced with M3 along Eastern Fwy.
Collingwood to Nunawading
Freeway Green Supplemental AD Sign:
Freeway green supplemental advance directional sign approaching Burke Road (MR17) at Kew East, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Burke Road Interchange:
Westbound at Kew East at the Burke Rd (MR17) interchange, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off-ramp at Burke Rd (MR17) interchange at Kew East, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign for Bulleen Road (MR42/52) at the Burke Road (MR17) interchange at Kew East, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bulleen approaching Doncaster Rd (MR36), November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Elgar Road Interchange:
Elgar Rd interchange at Doncaster, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Doncaster approaching Middleborough Rd (MR23), November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Middleborough Road Interchange:
Middleborough Rd (MR21) interchange in Blackburn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Blackburn Road Interchange:
The Blackburn Road (MR13) interchange at Doncaster East, November 2005. This is where the Eastern Freeway merges down to 3 lanes each way.
Image © Rob Tilley
End Freeway 1 km:
End Freeway sign at Doncaster East, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Nunawading to Collingwood
Supplemental AD Sign:
Supplemental advance directional sign approaching Middleborough Road (MR23) at Blackburn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental AD sign:
Supplemental advance directional sign approaching Tram Road (MR47) at Blackburn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Tram Road Interchange:
Eastern Fwy citybound, at Tram Road interchange in Blackburn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off-ramp at the Tram Road (MR47) interchange in Blackburn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the Elgar Road overpass at Doncaster, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Variable Message Sign:
VMS sign in Doncaster indicating traffic density and travel time to selected exits along the route, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental AD Sign:
Supplemental advance directional sign at Doncaster approaching Doncaster Road (MR36), November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Sound Barrier:
Unusual sound walls approaching Doncaster Road (MR36) in Balwyn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Doncaster North Interchange:
Eastern Fwy (former MR83) at Balwyn North at the Doncaster Rd (MR36) interchange, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off-ramp to Doncaster Road (MR36) at Balwyn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental AD Sign:
Supplemental advance directional sign approaching Bulleen Road (MR42 / MR52) at Balwyn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Variable Message Sign:
VMS sign in Balwyn North indicating traffic density and travel time to the Hoddle Street junction at the end of the freeway, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off ramp to Bulleen Rd (MR40 / SR42) at Balwyn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the off ramp to Bulleen Rd (MR40 / SR42) at Balwyn North, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign:
Freeway green AD sign approaching Chandler Hwy (MR21) at Kew, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Freeway Green Supplemental AD Sign:
Freeway green supplemental AD sign approaching Chandler Hwy (MR21) at Kew, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Chandler Highway Interchange:
Eastern Fwy at Chandler Hwy (MR21) at Kew, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Fairfield for the junction with Hoddle St (MR29), November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Freeway Green Directional Signs:
Freeway green directional signage over the lanes of the Eastern Fwy at Fairlfield approaching the end of the freeway, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
End Freeway 1km:
End Freeway sign at Fairfield, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Freeway Green Directional Signs:
Freeway green directional signage over the lanes of the Eastern Fwy at Abbottsford approaching the end of the freeway, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Hoddle Street Interchange:
Last interchange, westbound on the Eastern Freeway in Abbottsford, November 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
2 VIC Government, Picture Victoria, 1970s Anti-freeway protest.
3 VIC Government, Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission, Inquiry Into Managing Transport Congestion.
4 Tim Cole.
5 VIC Government, Picture Australia, 1970s Freeway construction.
6 VIC Government, Victorian Auditor General's Office, Road construction in Victoria: Major projects managed by VicRoads.
7 Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Annual Report 1997-98.
8 Australian Government, Office of the Minister for Roads and Ports, Media Release, $255 Million to Extend Eastern Freeway to Ringwood, $175 Million for new Hallam Bypass, 4 May 1999.
9 VIC Government, Minister of Transport, Media Release, First Eastern Freeway Milestone is Reached, 22 February 2001.
10 VIC Government, The Office of the Premier, Media Release, Premier Announces $326m Eastern Fwy Extension, 13 October 2000.
11 VIC Government, Minister of Transport, Media Release, Park Road Bridge Over Eastern Freeway Extension Opened to Traffic, 26 March 2002.
12 VIC Government, Minister of Transport, Media Release, Bracks Government Announces Mitcham-Frankston Freeway Project, 23 September 2002.