The Eastern Freeway has very well designed noise barriers. The barriers are creative, attractive and have been blended into the local environment well. Ample transparent sections have been included in the barriers, one section features a wave shaped barrier made out of transparent perspex.

The concrete walls are beautifully textured and coloured, with extensive landscaping on both sides. They have been curved in some areas to create an interesting visual effect, which alleviates the potential ugliness caused by repetition.

The barriers have received nation-wide recognition as the VicRoads website says: “The Eastern Freeway sound barriers were awarded the 1998 Victorian Architectural Medal, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Victoria) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (National) Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design. The innovative clear, curved sound barrier was used to reduce noise in a tight space”

So why do the Eastern Freeway noise barriers leave those on City Link for dead? One theory is that being a government road, if residents were unhappy with the works, the government may lose its support. Being a private company, Transurban have no need to do anything beyond the basic guidelines set in their contract. Unlike the government they are not interested in anyone but their customers, who are the road users and not the residents.

Transurban’s barriers were required to meet certain noise reduction levels. So Transurban are only concerned that the barriers reduce noise and not what their impact will be. Because of Transurban’s lack of consideration, the government has been forced to go back and pay for the installation of transparent sections.

This highlights a major problem with contracting out public infrastructure works to private companies. At the time the contracts are written up and signed it is impossible to predict every detail of what is going to happen, particularly how affected parties are going to react. This means when issues arise, companies can claim it is not their responsibility to deal with the problem because its not in the contract. The government then has no choice but to patch things up…and foot the bill.

“Transparent, curved
barrier on the Eastern Freeway”

“Colour, texture and carefully designed layout have all be included in the Eastern Freeway barriers”

“Extensive landscaping, particularly on the outside, allow the Eastern Freeway barriers to better blend into the environment”