The M80 Western Ring Road is one of Melbourne’s most important transport corridors, a 38 km freeway built between 1989 and 1999 to link the western and northern suburbs, relieve freight congestion, and stimulate industrial growth. These photographs, taken by The Advocate newspaper, document the first stage of works on the Western Ring Road, covering the section from Sunshine Avenue in Sunshine North through to Dodds Road in Keilor East.The significance of the M80 Western Ring Road is enormous, for Melbourne, for the western suburbs, and especially for Sunshine, Ardeer, St Albans, and the industrial corridor. Its importance is economic, social, industrial, and urban‑planning related.New Ring Road For The West 205.1western ring road, m80 western ring road

Western Ring Road (M80)western ring road

Western Ring Road Thiess Company 213.3western ring road, m80 western ring road, m80

Ring Road St. Albans Road Works 305.3western ring road, m80 western ring road, st. albans

Ring Road Bridge Keilor Whitten Bridge 506.1whitten bridge, m80 western ring road, western ring road, sunshine north, keilor

Banyule Council were undecided about Ring Road future in 2000 but councillors support retaining the Ring Road reservation.Newspaper clipping with black text and black and white photo.banyule city council, m80 ring road, metropolitan ring road

A collection of updates on major projects in Victoria, in particular the M80 Ring Road upgrades. Beginning in 2024, these updates are distributed to the local area.4 p., colour illus. north east link, victoria's big build, western ring road, m80 ring road, metropolitan ring road

Photograph shows residential development with auction board and construction of the Western Ring Road in background.Part of the John Ramsdale collection of slides and audio visual material.Colour photograph scanned from slide.No maker's marks. No caption on slide.western ring road, metropolitan ring road, apollo parkways

Banyule City Councillor Dean Sherriff gives his opinion of the route of the Ring Road extension Newspaper clipping with black text.banyule city council, greensborough, m80 ring road, metropolitan ring road

Letters to the editor of Diamond Valley Leader covering graffiti in Eltham and traffic around the Metropolitan Ring Road.News clipping, black text, colour image.metropolitan ring road, graffiti

This photograph documents the construction of the Jacana Underpass Tunnel, a landmark infrastructure project undertaken to allow Melbourne’s Western Ring Road to pass beneath a complex transport corridor. The corridor included Pascoe Vale Road, Electric Street, and four active railway lines—two broad gauge, one standard gauge, and one commuter line—making traditional tunneling or bridging methods impractical. The tunnel was constructed using a pioneering hydraulic jacking technique, where precast concrete tunnel segments, each weighing approximately 1200 tonnes, were pushed into place through pilot tunnels. This method minimised disruption to the busy transport corridor above, which carried tens of thousands of vehicles and multiple rail services daily. The Jacana Underpass Tunnel was constructed between 1992 and 1993 as part of Melbourne’s Western Ring Road project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving traffic flow and connectivity across the city’s northern suburbs. The underpass was designed to carry the freeway beneath a complex transport corridor that included Pascoe Vale Road, Electric Street, and four active railway lines—two broad gauge, one standard gauge, and one commuter line. Due to the shallow depth of cover—less than one metre in some areas—and the need to maintain uninterrupted road and rail services above, engineers employed an innovative hydraulic jacking technique. This involved pushing precast concrete tunnel segments, each weighing approximately 1200 tonnes, through pilot tunnels using hydraulic rams. The method was one of the largest of its kind in Australia at the time and allowed for the safe and efficient installation of the tunnel without open excavation. The photograph captures a key stage in the construction process, showing the dual tunnel portals, heavy machinery, and construction materials on site. It reflects the scale, complexity, and ingenuity of late 20th-century civil engineering in Victoria and provides valuable insight into the evolution of Melbourne’s transport infrastructure.This photograph documents a pivotal moment in the construction of the Jacana Underpass Tunnel, part of Melbourne’s Western Ring Road infrastructure project undertaken in the early 1990s. The image features two tunnel entrances under construction, surrounded by heavy machinery, construction materials, and temporary fencing, with a dirt access road leading into the site. The Jacana Underpass was constructed using a hydraulic jacking technique, a method that allowed large precast concrete tunnel segments—each weighing approximately 1200 tonnes—to be installed beneath a live transport corridor without disrupting traffic or rail services. This innovative approach was one of the largest of its kind in Australia and addressed significant engineering challenges, including shallow cover and complex geological conditions. The photograph is significant for its documentation of advanced civil engineering practices and the transformation of Melbourne’s northern suburbs through major infrastructure development. It provides insight into the construction techniques, site logistics, and material use typical of large-scale tunneling projects in the late 20th century. As part of an archival collection, this image contributes to the historical record of urban growth, transport planning, and engineering innovation in Victoria. It holds enduring value for researchers, historians, and infrastructure professionals studying the evolution of public works in the state.Colour photo. Construction Site. Jacana underpass tunnel.(Back - blue pen) 'Underpass/Jacana'underpass, jacana, construction, 1990's, jacana underpass tunnel, western ring road

anti ring road organisation (arro), dr paul mees, greg johnson, kennett government, liberal government, melbourne, metropolitan orbital transport corridor, metropolitan ring road, vicroads, victoria, wayne phillips m.p., map

Newsprint greensborough bypass, metropolitan ring road, road construction

The Colac, Victoria-based Colanda Centre was one of the last Victorian institutions and offered disability accommodation from 1976, when it was established, until 2019, with its closure.Digitised colour photograph of Main Ring Road in Colac, overlooking Colanda's Eagle, Finch and Dove unitscolanda, colac, disability services, residential services, disability, digitised photograph

The Colac, Victoria-based Colanda Centre was one of the last Victorian institutions and offered disability accommodation from 1976, when it was established, until 2019, with its closure.Digitised colour photograph of Main Ring Road, a view of the Colanda Centre Eagle, Finch and Dove units. colanda, colac, disability services, residential services, disability, digitised photograph

Diamond Valley's new shire president, Cr Tom Crothers outlines areas of concerns such as the State Government committing to the construction of F5 ring road and the F18 freeway beyond Greensborough, traffic management and a local development scheme for the Greensborough area. He also stated he would like to see more community participation in council affairs.Bruce Morgan was the first Shire Secretary (1964-1983) of the Shire of Diamond Valley. This collection was compiled by his wife, Mavis Morgan, detailing the events they attended in their official capacity.News clipping, text and black and white imagesbruce morgan, mavis morgan, shire of diamond valley, tom crothers

Colour photograph 2004, streets, road construction, bridge construction

An early report of the dissention between Eltham and Diamond Valley shires over the proposed "outer ring road" and its possible extension through to Eltham. This was a precursor to the present day metropolitan ring road.News clipping, black text, slightly smudged copy..metropolitan ring road, shire of diamond valley, shire of eltham

Early plans for the Greensborough by-pass and western ring road.Newspaper clipping, black and white text and image.greensborough bypass, western ring road

The proposed North East Link will connect the Western Ring Road and the Eastern Freeway.News clipping, black text.north east link, western ring road

RACV reports that the missing link between the Metropolitan Ring Road and Eastern Freeway should be a priority.News clipping, black text.eastern freeway, east west link project, metropolitan ring road

The North East Link will connect the Metropolitan Ring Road and Eastern Freeway. It is under consideration by the Victorian Government.News clipping, black text. north east link, metropolitan ring road

Aerial survey of Plenty Gorge Park area, including Greensborough by-pass construction and Metropolitan Ring Road reservation.An historical view of developing GreensboroughColour aerial photograph QAS 2504c run 5 3/11/86 1:15,500 by Qascophotoplenty gorge park, greensborough bypass, metropolitan ring road

Both Banyule and Nillumbik Councils support the East West Link Project between the Metropolitan Ring Road and Eastern Freeway.News clipping, black text.east west link project, metropolitan ring road, nillumbik council, banyule city council

Summary report of the Country Roads Board's 1981 proposals for the F5 Freeway (now Metropolitan Ring Road) between Dalton Road and Diamond Creek Road and the duplication of Greensborough Road (Greensborough By-pass).Historic proposal for roads in the Greensborough area51 pages, text, colour maps. Plastic binding.country roads board, greensborough bypass, metropolitan ring road, greensborough road

The Greensborough by-pass extends from Grimshaw Street in the south to Diamond Creek Road in the north. It is intersected by the eastern end of the Metropolitan Ring Road.Unpublished photographs of the construction of the Greensborough by-pass.21 colour photographs of the construction phase of the Greensborough By-pass.greensborough bypass, roads, greensborough, gary partington, metropolitan ring road

Shows the service access road on the hill side which would later be cut away to provide the connection to the Northern Ring Road which was opened in April 1994.Colour photograph originally located in a magnetic style album titled 'Greensborough Bypass 1990s 5' suffering significant degradation. No information contained in album or on reverse of photos except where noted. Relocated to archival photosafe storage.greensborough bypass, road construction, greensborough, northern ring road

Shows the service access road on the hill side which would later be cut away to provide the connection to the Northern Ring Road which was opened in April 1994.Colour photograph originally located in a magnetic style album titled 'Greensborough Bypass 1990s 5' suffering significant degradation. No information contained in album or on reverse of photos except where noted. Relocated to archival photosafe storage.greensborough bypass, road construction, greensborough, northern ring road