Travelling time cut as EastLink opens early
13 May 2008Commuters from our property will be able to enjoy improved travel to and from work as the new EastLink tollway is due to open 5 months ahead of schedule on the 29th June. The Eastlink is only 2 miles from the house and will provide improved access to the Eastern suburbs as well as linking up with the major arterial routes into the city.
The motorway, which will link Mitcham in the east and Frankston in Melbourne’s south, has taken just over three years to build. It was initially meant to be toll-free, but Mr Brumby today said he stood by the government’s decision to impose tolls. In 2003, the government sparked community anger when it reneged on its promise to build the motorway without tolls. “This was a controversial decision at the time, but it was the right decision for the state,” Mr Brumby told reporters. “I don’t have any second thoughts whatsoever about the direction the government took. “It was the right decision, the right direction.” He said the new roadway would save motorists travel time to and from Frankston and would benefit the freight sector. Drivers would pay $5 to travel the entire length of the road. Mr Brumby heralded the early completion of the tollway as an example of the successful partnership between the public and private sector. “Had we built this as a traditional public-sector major project, I dare say we wouldn’t be standing here today announcing it would be open five months ahead of schedule,” he told reporters. Mr Brumby said the tollway offered “substantial” environmental benefits. “The environmental benefits of this are going to be substantial as well, because people will be spending less time travelling to and from work … and, of course, all of the surrounding roads are going to be carrying less traffic.”
