Eastern Freeway
Infrastructure Case Study
Landscape Architects: Tract Consultants
Other Collaboration: Woods Marsh Bagot
Client/Designers: Vic Roads
Budget:
Construction Dates: 1994-1997
The Eastern Freeway Extension,
Melbourne
The
Eastern Freeway which extends from central Melbourne to the east
through Melbourne’s inner suburbs was constructed over
the period 1994-1997. It was designed by VicRoads in association
with the landscape architecture firm Tract Consultants Pty Ltd
and architects, Woods Marsh Bagot.
The
designers worked in conjunction with community members who were
concerned that the road would divide up suburban areas and adversely
affect water, air and noise quality. Residents “were particularly
concerned about maintaining and improving the quality of the
waterway that the road would parallel along the valley floor. Their
involvement in the process of design and decision making,
however, encouraged the inclusion of many of the design elements
that resulted in the works ultimately improving the landscape
of their suburbs, rather than degrading it.” (Bull 2002,
97).
An area of local neglected bushland was transformed
into a local linear park. The degraded stormwater basin
which ultimately feeds into the Yarra River was remediated creating
a series of naturalistic ponds and recreation experiences. Run-off
from both the roadway and surrounding suburbs is filtered within
the wetland system. Pedestrian paths connect to the trails
along the Yarra River allowing residents to ride bicycles to
work. Connections between suburban areas are maintained
by the creation of “four spectacular pedestrian and cycle
bridges cross the corridor” (Bull 2002, 97).
Tract
aimed to enhance the often mundane experience of freeway driving
by creating a varied and pleasant landscape which would assist
drivers in remaining alert. Explaining the driver experience,
they say: “ The drive becomes an episode of flickering
rhythms of hard and soft landscape and blurs of muted colour
and texture” (Tract 2004, p 195). Plants compositions
were influenced by the modernistic abstract style of the famous
Brazilian Landscape Architect, Roberto Burle-Marx.
The
Landscape Architects acknowledge that the area “can never
be returned to its pristine bush state. But a memory of
its original condition has been reconstructed using indigenous
species.” (Tract 2004, 195). More than four million
plants were planted with nearly half of those being propagated
from local indigenous seed sources.
Catherin Bull
sums up the project - “This project proposes that
road corridor development can, with appropriate design, act as
a rnedium for landscape connectivity, integration and health,
rather than segregation and degradation. The values of the endemic
environment are promoted by the re-establishment of new broad-scale
areas of landscape in forms that accommodate use and encourage
appreciation. This project provides and promotes multiple modes
of movement in ways that give users opportunities to experience
the workings of the landscape as part of their journey.” (Bull
2002, 97). The success of this project was recognized by
receiving a National Merit Award in 1998.
Prepared
by Edwina Richardson (AAILA) 2006
