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Statistics:

• Length: 62 km (Noble Park to Seaford: 16 km)
• Western Terminus: Alexandra Pde (Eastern Hwy) (MR83) and Gold St, Collingwood
• Southern Terminus:Moorooduc Hwy (C777) and Cranbourne Rd (MR4 / TD12) at Frankston
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Noble Park, Dandenong, Bangholme, Carrum Downs, Seaford and Frankston

Route Numbering:

• Current: M3

• Road Authority Internal Classification: 1996 (Eastlink)

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

Northbound			Southbound
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Eastlink at Keysborough: Looking at the Eastlink mainline prior to linemarking at Keysborough from the Dandenong Bypass interchange, February 2008 Image © Phillip McCallum			Intersection Directional: Barely covered ID sign on the Dandenong Bypass interchange at Keysborough, February 2008 Image © Phillip McCallum
Click here for construction photos at the Princes Highway / Heatherton Road interchange Click here for construction photos at the Greens 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 21:06

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