[5] The North East Link is currently under construction between the Greensborough Bypass, the north-eastern end of the Ring Road, with the Eastern Freeway.

The Ring Road project was proposed as part of the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan (F3, F5 & F7 Freeway corridors) and has documented in almost every edition of the Melway street directory since that time.

Construction of the Western Ring Road began in February 1989 with work on the Broadmeadows section,[7] and was completed with the final link between the Calder and Tullamarine Freeways.

Initial upgrading and widening works of the Western and Metropolitan Ring Roads was carried out between 2009 and 2014, funded by the Federal Government Auslink 2 program.

[needs update][20] VicRoads had originally produced an official "M80 Upgrade Website" with links to a newly created site showing video simulations, maps and scheduled traffic disruptions on the freeway, for already- or nearly-completed sections.

Along with the $2.25 billion upgrade, is a new 'Freeway Management System' that includes Ramp Signals (Traffic Lights located within on-ramps), overhead lane signs (electronic variable speed limits and lane symbols) & overhead electronic message boards; along with various new CCTV cameras and 'intelligent' sensors underground (to detect freeway congestion for signals).

[23] The upgrade of the Plenty Road to Greensborough Highway section will be included as part of the North East Link project, which commenced construction in 2024 and will be completed in 2028.

However, minor upgrades to the Princes Freeway interchange are underway as part of the West Gate Tunnel project, having commenced construction in 2019 and a delayed completion in 2025.

Once the road is built, it will run through areas that are environmentally and politically sensitive, such as Viewbank, Banyule Flats, Eltham, Templestowe or Warrandyte.

A inner-city link to the east was previously considered using the proposed tunnel to connect the Eastern Freeway with Melbourne's west, before its cancellation.

[24] The official reservation for the extension ends at Ryans Road in Eltham North, but these transmission line corridors could be used to carry the freeway through to Eastlink in Ringwood.

In July 2008, it was announced by then Premier John Brumby that the completion of the missing section was again being considered by the Victorian State Government as part of a wider plan to deal with Melbourne's traffic problems.