‘Time better spent’ for Melbourne motorists

Partnering with ConnectEast, Beca harnessed our award-winning project management smarts to oversee resurfacing of Melbourne’s 39km EastLink Motorway - so motorists can enjoy a smooth drive and ‘time better spent’ for many years ahead.

Described as “Melbourne’s Motorway Masterpiece”, the 39km EastLink (M3) is one of Australia’s longest and safest toll roads, carrying 1 billion+ vehicle trips since opening in 2008. Every 12-15 years the motorway’s Open Graded Asphalt (OGA) surface needs replacing, and that’s exactly what Beca, working with operator ConnectEast and construction contractor Downer EDI, have made a reality.

With EastLink’s original OGA surface approaching its estimated end of life, ConnectEast hired Beca in November 2019 as Project Manager/Contract Administrator (PMCA) to help select a construction contractor and oversee successful delivery of this $50 million construction project.

Whilst a project of this nature is complex at the best of times – for example, works are constrained to October-April windows when the weather is warm and dry enough for the fresh surface to be correctly laid, and can only be carried out overnight to avoid disruption to motorists from lane closures – we also had to contend with Victoria’s unforeseen Covid restrictions through much of the 4-5 year project lifecycle.

However, through careful project management, including adopting a ‘waterfall’ project methodology and engineering smarts, EastLink’s resurfacing works were successfully completed on time and to budget on March 7 2024 with 0 hours loss-time due to injury (LTI) recorded.

The end result: a smooth, word-class motorway surface with an estimated design life of 15+ years that will give back “time better spent” for millions of motorists in Melbourne’s east for many years ahead.

The dedication and efforts of the team who delivered EastLink’s Resurfacing Project were also recognised at the AIPM 2024 Project Management Achievement Awards in August – with these works winning the ‘Construction/Engineering Projects’ category for Victoria!

Awards

• AIPM Project Management Achievement Awards 2024 – ‘Construction/Engineering projects’ (VIC Winner)