Major Eastern Freeway Closure to Disrupt Melbourne Traffic This Weekend
A major traffic disruption is coming to Melbourne this weekend, as the Eastern Freeway will be completely closed for crucial North East Link Project works. Starting from 10:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, November 10, both directions of the freeway will be shut down between Bulleen Road and Doncaster Road. This closure is essential to safely remove the Estelle Street pedestrian bridge, which will later be replaced with a wider and safer structure.
Motorists across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs are being strongly advised to plan ahead, expect heavy delays—possibly up to 90 minutes—and avoid the area altogether if possible. The shutdown won’t just affect the freeway itself; nearby roads such as Doncaster, Bulleen, Manningham, Tram, and Middleborough are expected to see much heavier traffic than usual. On-ramps leading into the closed section, including Chandler Highway (Ringwood-bound) and Elgar, Middleborough, Blackburn, and Springvale roads (citybound), will also be closed to help keep traffic moving elsewhere.
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To further ease congestion, temporary parking bans and right-turn restrictions will be introduced on several key roads, including Doncaster Road, Manningham Road, and High Street. Electronic signs and detours will be in place throughout the weekend to help guide drivers. Meanwhile, a shuttle bus service will operate every 30 minutes between Estelle Street and Carron Street to assist pedestrians during the three-week period when the bridge area remains closed to walkers and cyclists.
Crews will use this closure to carry out a range of critical works beyond just bridge removal. These include drainage and utility relocations, piling, asphalting, and the installation of new traffic management systems at Doncaster and Bulleen interchanges. Following the weekend closure, additional works will continue through November, including a closure of the Doncaster Road outbound exit ramp and High Street until mid-December.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams said the works are part of a larger transformation that will modernize the freeway and connect it to the North East Link tunnels. Once complete, the project promises to deliver new express lanes, a managed motorway system, and Melbourne’s first dedicated busway—cutting travel times by up to 11 minutes and improving public transport options across the city’s east.
By 2028, the Eastern Freeway upgrades and North East Link tunnels are expected to cut travel times by as much as 35 minutes and remove 15,000 trucks from local suburban roads every day. While the upcoming closure is expected to test drivers’ patience, the long-term benefits could be transformative for Melbourne’s transport network.
In the meantime, motorists are urged to plan their journeys carefully, follow detour signs, and allow plenty of extra time while crews work around the clock to keep the city moving toward a smoother, safer future.
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