City Link Information

The new City Link project presently being developed by the private Transurban consortium, is the largest single infrastructure project in Victoria’s history. It comprises 22 kilometres of new and upgraded freeways linking the existing Tullamarine, South Eastern and Westgate Freeways. The whole of its route will be subject to tolls, to be recorded electronically from each vehicle that traverses the various sections.

Private-funding and toll charges were decided on for the following reasons:

• The State on its own could not afford such a project at this time
• The cost of the road should be borne by those who use it and not all taxpayers
• Differential charges may be applied for various types of users according to the vehicle’s effect on the road and the economic benefit they derive from it.

All users will be tolled by means of electronic transponders (e-TAGs) affixed to their vehicle, which will record travel information and then bill the customer. There will be no toll gates or booths, which means travel will be completely uninterrupted.

If a vehicle travels on City Link more than 12 times a year, an e-TAG must be installed and an account opened. Less frequent users may purchase day passes as required ($7.00 per day for cars)

Customers may opt for ‘pay-as-you-go’ accounts or maintain pre-paid accounts of a minimum opening balance of $50, which is converted into ‘toll credits’ and can be topped up as required and any remaining balance refunded in the event of its closure. Facilities are also available for accounts to be automatically ‘topped up’ via direct debit by at least $25 if its balance falls below a certain level. Pay-as-you-go accounts do not require topping up but will attract a monthly account-keeping fee of $2.50. ‘Anonymous’ accounts, which do not require personal identification, are also available.

Commercial users may open credit accounts and those who require more than 20 e-TAGs will be eligible for invoice accounts with detailed monthly account statements. These may also be divided into ‘sub-accounts’, which may be charged to various cost-centres within the organisation. All such accounts may also be directly debited each month should the user so desire. The annual account-keeping fee for each commercial account and sub-account will be $65.

Section 1 is from Moreland Rd to Brunswick Rd
Section 2 is from Racecourse Rd to Dynon Rd
Section 6 is from Punt Rd to Burnley St
Section 7 is from a point east of Burnley St to Toorak Rd

All fees and charges will be fixed until the end of 2000, from which time all subsequent increases will be limited to the CPI, or 1.056%, whichever is greater. The operator of the road, Transurban, will administer the tolls for a period of 34 years, after which time it will revert to Government ownership

(Transurban City Link Information Package, November 1998; www.transurban.com.au)