The Melbourne City Link is a privately operated, fully electronic toll road in the heart of Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city.
The Project was conducted under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) arrangement with the Concession Holder responsible for arranging finance, constructing the infrastructure, operating and maintaining the Link, receiving revenue from toll collections and, at the end of the Concession Period (14 January 2034, subject to the terms of the Concession Deed), transferring the Link to the State in a fully maintained condition.
Construction commenced in May 1996 and the road was fully opened and tolled in December 2000.
The project, which has a total length of some 22 kilometres, provides freeway standard connections between three existing freeways (Tullamarine, West Gate and Monash) thereby linking Melbourne airport, the major port facilities and industrial centres south-east of the city and by-passes the central business district.
Melbourne City Link incorporates a fully electronic, cashless tolling system with no toll stations or boom gates. The system allows motorists to travel the entire route without stopping or slowing to pay tolls. This was one of the first systems of its kind in the world.
Detailed information in relation to toll products, costs and conditions may be found on the CityLink website (www.citylink.com.au)
Project Management Arrangements:
Melbourne City Link Authority – 22 December 1994 to 28 February 2002
Initial work was carried out by a project team established within the Department of Infrastructure in May 1994. As a result of a review of the project, the Government decided that it would be best handled by an independent authority. The Melbourne City Link (Authority) was established on 22 December 1994 under the provisions of the Melbourne City Link Authority Act 1994.
The Authority’s functions were to:
- Assist in the development of the project (and later the Exhibition Street Extension Project - ESEP);
- Evaluate submissions on the brief for the project;
- Negotiate with persons interested in undertaking the project;
- Recommend the person or persons to undertake the project;
- Facilitate and co-ordinate consultations with statutory authorities and agencies of the State involved in the development of the project (and ESEP);
- Ensure that the project (and ESEP) were undertaken and completed in accordance with the Melbourne City Link Act 1995 and agreements and arrangements entered into by the State; and
- Undertake other functions conferred on it.
The Authority acquired land (Freehold and Crown) required for the project and ESEP, monitored the State’s risk, negotiated with various government agencies, organised and participated in extensive community consultation in relation to design issues and contributed to the resolution of a host of construction, operation and public affairs issues.
The Authority was formally wound up on 28 February 2002.
Office of the Director, Melbourne City Link – 29 February 2002 to 16 June 2004
Following a review of the long term project management needs, the Authority was wound up on 28 February 2002 and was replaced by the Office of the Director, Melbourne City Link (ODMCL) on the following day.
The ODMCL, a unit within the Department of Infrastructure, continued the work of the Authority and placed particular emphasis on contractual management, customer services and tolling products particularly for infrequent road users. It also undertook a major review of public safety and traffic management aspects of the City Link, oversaw the disposal of surplus land, continued to handle community enquiries and provide advice to the Minister.
The small group that made up the ODMCL moved to the VicRoads head office on 8 December 2003 and all of the functions of that group were formally transferred to VicRoads on 17 June, 2004.
VicRoads – 17 June 2004 to 27 September 2007
On 17 June 2004, VicRoads became responsible to the Minister for Transport for management of contractual arrangements in relation to City Link.
Major achievements include:
- Introduction of “Late Invoices” that allow motorists, who use the City Link without making prior arrangements, to pay the applicable toll plus an administrative fee (currently $12.00 rising to $21.50 for a second invoice), rather than face an Infringement notice of $100.00;
- Negotiation of an agreement to upgrade the Tullamarine Freeway/Calder Freeway interchange involving complex financial arrangements between the State and CityLink Melbourne Limited;
- Agreement to arrangements for the widening of the Monash-CityLink-West Gate corridor.
Commercial Division, Department of Infrastructure - 28 September 2007 to 4 July 2008
On 28 September 2007 the Minister for Roads announced that responsibility for City Link issues would be transferred to the Department of Infrastructure. The small group continued its normal operations within the Commercial Division of that Department until July 2008, when the Government decided that VicRoads would once again become responsible for these matters.
VicRoads - 7 July 2008 to Present
On 7 July 2008, responsibility for management of the City Link contractual arrangements was, once again, transferred to VicRoads. The City Link group is part of Commercial Division.
The links we provide to websites other than VicRoads web sites are not under our control and are provided to you only as a convenience. We are not responsible for the content of any such websites.