The first of the North East Link tunnels has now been excavated, with tunnel boring machine (TBM) Zelda breaking through in Bulleen after completing more than five kilometres of tunnelling beneath Melbourne’s north-east.
TBM Zelda completed excavation of the first of the project’s two three-lane tunnels after beginning its journey in Watsonia almost two years ago, helping deliver the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network.
The 15.6-metre-wide and 90-metre-long machine has excavated just over five kilometres of the 6.5-kilometre northbound tunnel between Watsonia and Bulleen.
TBM Gillian continues excavation on the southbound tunnel and is expected to break through later in 2026.
Alongside excavation works, the TBMs have installed more than 43,000 precast concrete segments manufactured in Benalla. More than 4,000 culverts produced in Echuca are also being used to create a service tunnel for maintenance vehicle access.
Once tunnelling is complete, the TBMs will be dismantled and removed from site, with components either recycled or returned to the manufacturer for reuse.
Works are continuing inside the tunnels, including construction of the roadway along with installation of electrical, lighting and safety systems.
Above ground, crews are progressing connections into the tunnel, the new Greensborough Road boulevard and two ventilation structures.
When completed, the tunnels are expected to provide a direct route for up to 15,000 trucks each day and reduce travel times between Melbourne’s north and east by up to 35 minutes.
The North East Link tunnels are scheduled to open in 2028.
