The Andrews Labor Government will keep traffic moving on busy Greensborough Road as work ramps up on Victoria’s biggest ever road project – North East Link.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan has announced that works begin tonight on a massive work program to move a large, high-pressure gas main under Greensborough Road to make way for North East Link.

Progressive nightworks will take place over several months to minimise disruption for the 68,000 people that rely on Greensborough Road every day.

The 2.5-kilometre gas pipe is being relocated as part of North East Link’s Early Works Package, which will create almost 1000 construction jobs.

Trenches up to 12 metres long and more than three metres deep will be excavated to allow a new gas-line to be laid under the western lane of Greensborough Road, leaving a single lane in each direction at night, when works around the gas main are undertaken.

Construction teams will monitor and manage noise with specialist equipment, as well as using directional lighting and dust management to minimise impacts on residents.

Works have also started on the $12.2 million upgrade of Greensborough College’s sports facilities, which include a natural turf AFL and cricket oval with lighting, a synthetic turf cricket pitch and a new synthetic soccer pitch and a new pavilion.

Once North East Link is built, it will take up to 19,000 cars and trucks off Greensborough Road every day.

The early works program includes moving 34 kilometres of gas, water and sewer pipes and drains – the length of a return trip from Watsonia to Melbourne’s CBD – and 100 services so major construction can start next year.

The formal acquisition process is now continuing following a three-month extension in recognition of the difficult and uncertain circumstances coronavirus has created.

The project has managed to almost halve the number of homes that will be acquired from 75 to 36 homes in the reference design, with work continuing to further reduce the number of properties that are needed.