No its not April fools…. The government is seeking to put a heritage overlay over everybody’s favourite traffic jam and has applied to Heritage Victoria. The section of the Eastern Freeway in question is the area between Hoddle Street and Bulleen Road. Designed and built in late 60s and early 70s and a focus for major community protests in the 1970s the argument is that it meets a number of characteristics which could meet or significantly satisfy a number of the criteria for heritage listing. This would mean one of Melbourne’s worst bottle necks could join an elite list of other heritage listed sites like St Paul's Cathedral, Flagstaff Gardens and the MCG. The government has hit out at suggestions that this would stop the North East link, with a spokesperson stating that “if it were listed, they would still be able to go forward with works but would need to get a permit first.” Does this mean that the North East link would be further delayed by needing to seek further approvals?
