The North East Link Program: A Coordinated Effort for Melbourne's Future

To guarantee the durability of the project's concrete tunnel moulds against harsh batching plant conditions, corrosion, and wear and tear, the North East Link casting moulds must use high-quality protective coatings. These casting moulds comprised 40 steel moulds that previously cast the tunnel segments of the West Gate Tunnel Project, and each mould weighed 8000kg after being fully refurbished.

Benefits of the North East Link Program

The North East Link Program is a massive undertaking that will transform the way people move around Melbourne. The project involves the construction of the North East Link Tunnels, which will reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes and take 15,000 trucks off local roads every day. The program also includes the completion of the Ring Road in Greensborough, an overhaul of the Eastern Freeway, the construction of Melbourne's first dedicated busway, and the North East Trail, which will provide over 34km of walking and cycling paths.

Collaborative Efforts for High Quality Coatings

To ensure the success of the North East Link Program, all parties involved must work together in a coordinated effort. The Victorian Government has enlisted the help of Spark Consortium, a group of leading construction companies from around the world, and McElligotts, the applicator to ensure the project's success. McElligotts was responsible for the application of the protective coatings on the mild steel moulds, which were then used to cast the concrete tunnel segments.

Chris Eldred, the Technical Sales Representative of Dulux® Protective Coatings, specified a coating system for the mild steel moulds used in the North EastLink Program. The coating system used is designed to provide long-lasting protection against the elements. It consists of:

1^st coat: Dulux® Duremax® GPE ZP at 125-microns (µm), a two-pack epoxy zinc phosphate primer, that provides excellent adhesion and corrosion resistance in factory Grey.
Topcoat: Dulux® Weathermax® HBR at 75-microns (µm) DFT, a high build, two-pack polyurethane coating that offers superb UV resistance, gloss retention, and durability in Golden Yellow.

"McElligotts applied the protective coatings to the mild steel moulds and we can confidently say that the coating system used is of the high quality to ensure the long-term durability of the coating system used in the North East Link Program," said Vic Monarca, Business Development Manager at McElligotts.

The North East Link Program is a significant investment in Melbourne's future, providing significant benefits to the community by reducing travel times, improving public transport infrastructure, and providing more options for walking and cycling. The use of high-quality protective coatings on the mild steel moulds is essential to ensure the long-term durability of the coating system for the project.