Eastern Freeway disruptions - September 2026

The Victorian Government is continuing work on the North East Link (NEL) project. As the work progresses, there will be disruptions to the Eastern Freeway and nearby roads.

We encourage you to:

• check for the latest updates on Victoria’s Big Build disruptions page.
• plan ahead during closures 
• seek alternative routes and allow extra time.

Eastern Freeway weekend closure

From 10 pm Friday 11 September to 5 am Monday 14 September, the Eastern Freeway will be closed in both directions between Chandler Highway and Tram Road.

During the closure, delays of up to 90 minutes are expected during peak times.

We encourage motorists to plan their journey, allow extra time and avoid the area if possible. For longer trips to the city or airport, consider using alternative arterials including the Monash Freeway or the M80.

Additional changes for September and October

The following additional changes will take place in September and October:

• Thompsons Road between Bulleen Road and the Eastern Freeway outbound/Ringwood-bound on-ramp will re-open on 14 September 2026.
• The Bulleen Road inbound/citybound on-ramp will re-open on 14 September 2026.
• The Doncaster Road outbound/Ringwood-bound on-ramp will be closed until mid-October 2026.

Tree planting update

We’ve just finished planting 375 trees at 19 parks and reserves in Boroondara as part of the 2026 North East Link Program tree canopy replacement program. Find out where we’ve planted on our Tree canopy replacement plan page. We’re also planning for next year’s tree planting, with locations to be confirmed later this year.

More information

Find out more about the project and how we’re advocating for the best outcomes for the Boroondara community as development progresses on our North East Link page.

This article was originally published on 1 September 2026.