User:Lakeyboy/Sandbox/EastLink, Melbourne
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EastLink is a A$2.5 billion tolled freeway located in Melbourne, Australia, which links a large area of it's eastern and south-eastern suburbs.[1] The tolled freeway is a major part of Melbourne's Metropolitan Ring Road project. It was originally proposed as a toll-free road, however the state government later reneged and imposed tolls. The federal government subsequently withdrew their earlier offer of partial funding.
{{Australian motorway| | motorway logo = EASTLINK LOGO GOES HERE. CANNOT BE USED HERE DUE TO BREACH OF [[WP:FU]] | motorway = [[Image:Australian Alphanumeric State Route M3.PNG|150px]]<br>EastLink | length-km = 39 | length-mi = 24 | direction = North – South | start = [[Image:Australian Alphanumeric State Route M3.PNG|35px]] '''[[Eastern Freeway]]''',<br>[[Donvale, Victoria|Donvale, Melbourne]] | destinations = [[Ringwood, Victoria|Ringwood]]<br>[[Dandenong, Victoria|Dandenong]]<br>[[Frankston, Victoria|Frankston]] | end = [[Image:Australian State Route 11.svg|25px]] '''[[Frankston Freeway]]''',<br>[[Seaford, Victoria|Seaford, Melbourne]] | opening-date = March 2005 | completion-date = [[June 29]] [[2008]] | junctions = '''[[Image:Australian State Route 62.svg|25px]] [[Ringwood Bypass]]<br>[[Image:Australian Alphanumeric State Route M1.svg|35px]] [[Monash Freeway]]<br>[[Dandenong Bypass]]''' | motorway owner = '''[[ConnectEast]]''' | motorway operator = '''ConnectEast''' }}
EastLink was first derived from the inclusion of a proposed freeway in the Melway street directory in the late 1960s, and has been slated as a major Melbourne road link ever since. After an intense bidding process in 2004, ConnectEast was awarded the contract to own and operate EastLink for 35 years. Construction commenced in March 2005 and was due to open by November 2008, but was instead opened five months ahead of schedule on June 29 2008.[2].
EastLink is electronically tolled via overhead gantrys, which eliminates the need for toll booths. Toll charges are recorded through ConnectEast developed tags entitled "Breeze", which are mounted on the windscreens of vehicles, although the system is similar to (and interoperable with) the e-TAG system used on the CityLink freeway. Alternatively, toll charges can also be recorded by still photography and computer processing. A four week toll-free period was put forward shortly before the freeway was to be opened, to allow motorists to experience the freeway before tolling commenced.
EastLink was designed to blend in with it's surrounds. It features 17 interchanges, with 3 major as well as twin 1.6 km tunnels under the Mullum Mullum Valley. Millions of plants have been planted and wetlands developed to enhance the environmental profile of the freeway. Four large public artworks are also located along the freeway. A concrete shared user path named the EastLink Trail was also built alongside the freeway to enhance cyclist facilities along the freeway corridor.
EastLink was constructed by a joint venture of Australian construction companies Thiess and John Holland,[3] with mechanical and electrical work contracted to United Group Infrastructure.[4]