Major local arterial roads to close this weekend with some closed until mid-September

Eastern Freeway

Local drivers are advised to plan ahead and avoid the Eastern Freeway from next weekend as the freeway will be closed in both directions between Bulleen Road and Springvale Road from 10pm, Friday, 14th August, to 5am, Monday, 17th August 2026.

This weekend's closure will be mainly used to lift and install a large structure that forms part of the citybound exit ramp from the new North East Link tunnels to the Eastern Freeway causing delays up to 90 minutes.

Key changes during the closure...

• You won't be able to get onto the Eastern Freeway heading towards Ringwood from Chandler Highway.
• Thompsons Road in both directions between Bulleen Road and Thompsons Road Ringwood-bound entry ramp to the Eastern Freeway will be closed adding and extra 30 minutes to your journey until mid-September.
• Winfield Road at Doncaster Road will be closed to complete drainage works.

• Doncaster Road will be a clearway between Burke Road and Cityview Road both directions. This means no vehicles can park or stop here.
• Right turns at the following intersections will be prohibited:
  • Doncaster Road heading east towards:
• Rose Street
• Elgar Road
• Tram Road
• Frederick Street

• Manningham Road in both directions at Thompsons Road until mid-September.
• Station Street heading south towards Whitehorse Road/Maroondah Highway.
• It's likely that you will be able to use the bus lanes in the detour routes below to drive straight on Doncaster Road and Manningham Road like previously. Just look out for signs in case.
• Key detours will be via:
  • Bulleen Road, Templestowe Road, Reynolds Road and Springvale Road.
  • Bulleen Road, Manningham Road, Doncaster Road and Springvale Road.
  • Bulleen Road, Doncaster Road and Springvale Road.
  • Maroondah Highway, Whitehorse Road and Burke Road for citybound traffic only.

You can read up more from here: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/roads/eastern-freeway-upgrades/eastern-freeway-major-disruptions

EastLink

EastLink will be closed in both directions between Springvale Road and Canterbury Road from 8pm on Saturday, 15th August, to 7am on Sunday, 16th August 2026.

The Ringwood Bypass will also be closed in both directions between Ringwood Street and Maroondah Highway while the EastLink tunnel maintenance occurs.

You can read up more from here: https://www.eastlink.com.au/enquiries/alerts/eastlink-disruptions

Bus routes impacted...

• City
  Routes 200, 905, 906 and 907 (both directions) will not service selected bus stops near Melbourne Central from 5pm Saturday 15 August until 11.30am Sunday 16 August 2026, due to construction works at Melbourne Central. Find out more by clicking here.
• Thompsons Rd
  • Routes 280, 200, 305 and 309 and 905 will have changes from 10pm, Friday 14 August until mid-September 2026.
• Doncaster Junction bus stops will be closed from 10pm, Friday 14 August to 5am, Monday 17 August 2026. Please use bus stops at Westfield Doncaster instead. 907 commuters can use any bus stop on Doncaster Rd nearby.
• Middleborough Rd/Whetherby Rd
  The following services won't be provided at the Eastern Freeway on-ramps from 10pm, Friday 14 August to 5am, Monday 17 August 2026.
  • Route 906 heading towards the city:
    Get on the 279 bus at the Eastern Fwy/Middleborough Rd stop, get off at the Doncaster Rd/Wetherby Rd stop and change to the 907 bus at the Wetherby Rd/Doncaster Rd stop. 907 goes to the same stops in the city as 906.
  • Route 906 heading towards Blackburn Rd:
    Cross the road to the 279 bus at the Eastern Fwy/Middleborough Rd stop, get off at the Doncaster Rd/Wetherby Rd stop, change to the 907 bus at the D'Arcy St/Doncaster Rd stop and get off at the 1039 Doncaster Rd stop. From there walk north down Blackburn Rd and get the 906 from the Leura St/Blackburn Rd stop or the 901 Frankston bus at the Colchester Dr/Blackburn Rd stop if you need to get to a bus stop south of Doncaster Rd on Blackburn Rd.
• Blackburn Rd
  The following services won't be provided from 10pm, Friday 14 August to 5am, Monday 17 August 2026 on Blackburn Rd between Doncaster Rd & the Eastern Freeway:
  • Route 906 heading south of Doncaster Rd: If you need to use stops along Blackburn Rd between Doncaster Road and the Eastern Freeway, use the 901 service instead after getting off at the Colchester Dr/Blackburn Rd stop.
  • Route 906 heading south of Doncaster Rd: If you need to use stops along Blackburn Rd between the Eastern Freeway & Doncaster Rd, use the 901 service instead.

Expect lengthily delays as all buses that use Eastern Freeway and Thompsons Rd will be detoured.

After the weekend closures...

Thompsons Road

Thompsons Road will continue to be closed in both directions between Bulleen Road & the Eastern Freeway on-ramp towards Ringwood until mid-September. Bus routes on Thompsons Road will still be diverted during this time.

This closure will allow crews to build the permanent road alignment, complete tie in works to the newly widened Bullen Road bridge and continue to build the elevated ramps connecting an upgraded Eastern Freeway into the new North East Link Tunnels.

Eastern Freeway Bulleen Road city-bound entry ramp

The Eastern Freeway Bulleen Road city-bound entry ramp will be closed from 9pm, Tuesday 18 August to mid September 2026.

This closure will allow crews to deliver and install large beams to construct elevated ramps.

Bulleen Road & the city-bound lanes on the Eastern Freeway

The city-bound lanes on the Eastern Freeway between Doncaster Road & Burke Road and Bulleen Road in both directions between the Bulleen Road city-bound ramps and Bulleen Park access road will be closed from Tuesday 18 August to Thursday 20 August, 10pm to 5am each night.

Eastern Freeway Doncaster Road Ringwood-bound entry ramp

The Eastern Freeway Doncaster Road Ringwood-bound entry ramp will remain closed until mid October.