Spark North East Link Project - Melbourne, Victoria

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, the 6.5km North East Link Tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen will fix the missing link in the city’s freeway network, take 15,000 trucks off local roads a day and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes.

Victoria’s Big Build is driving significant change in the reuse of waste material , through the Victorian governments ecologiQ program and the implementation of the Recycled First Policy. These programs see the integration of recycled content across Victoria's transport infrastructure projects, requiring bidders on transport projects to optimise their use of reused and recycled materials, and make use of greener materials.

Outcome

In an Australian-first, Saferoads Rubber T-Lok Barriers are helping protect hundreds of workers building North East Link and saving tonnes of waste from going to landfill. The Rubber T-Lok barrier was the perfect solution to support the Victoria Government’s recycled first policy, as the inclusion of crumbed rubber from recycled tyres reduces waste going to landfill and promotes the recirculation of materials.

The Rubber T-Lok was deployed on the eastern alignment of Bulleen Rd on one of the largest infrastructure projects in the southern hemisphere, the North East Link Tunnel. The barriers’ delivery is thanks to tunnelling contractor Spark, which has installed more than 220 Saferoads Rubber T-Lok temporary barriers across the project, with another 59 on the way. Keeping traffic moving during construction is a priority, and safety barriers between the road and site are crucial to keeping everyone safe. The Rubber T-Lok barriers are also being used within construction sites to separate workers from heavy machinery and haul roads.

Almost 56 million used tyres are discarded nationally every year, but just 10% are recycled. For every 1km of Rubber T-Lok barrier produced, 12 tonnes of recycled tyres are used - equivalent to 2000 tyres – supporting local jobs by building a sustainable and thriving circular economy.

North East Link is expected to open in 2028 and is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.