IT WOULD take 56 years to repay the cost of building the East West Link, the business case has revealed.

The business case obtained by the Herald Sun compared the cost of the East West Link to the equivalent cost of building Citylink and East Link in 2011 dollars.

It showed East West Link would be much more expensive to build for the toll revenue it would raise, compared with CityLink and East Link.

If the road earned $112 million in annual toll revenue it would take 56 years to cover a $6.3 billion construction cost.

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In comparison, it would take CityLink eight years to pay the $3.4 billion construction costs and East Link would take 20 years to pay its $4.2 billion construction bill, if those roads were built in 2011.

The Napthine Government sensationally considered increasing tolls on CityLink and East Link, and introducing tolls on the Eastern Freeway and Tullamarine Freeway, in order to make the $6.8 billion East West Link financially ­viable.

The 200-plus-page East West Link Business Case, ­obtained by the Herald Sun ­before its official release today, has revealed tolls on the first stage of the abandoned tunnel were not enough to cover its ongoing costs.

The second stage of the link, connecting the Port precinct to the Western Ring Rd near Sunshine, would also need the reintroduction of tolls on the West Gate Bridge to make it ­financially viable.

Road operators Transurban and ConnectEast raised the prospect of increased tolls on their roads in secret meetings held with the former government before the business case for the East West Link was completed.

“Adjusting pricing arrangements on these existing toll roads would increase the total funding available for the Road Link, as well as establish a fair and efficient toll regime across Melbourne’s freeway network,’’ the business case ­argued.

The June 2013 business case, which the former government refused to release, said Transurban, the operator of CityLink, believed tolling ­increases on its roads could make a “significant (multi-billion dollar) contribution” to the cost of the East West Link.

Options to spread the cost to users of Melbourne’s broader road network were also considered, including tolling the new off-ramps at Hoddle St from the Eastern Freeway once the East West Link was built.

Tolling one or all lanes on the Eastern Freeway, the M1 between the CityLink tunnel and the Bolte Bridge and the Tullamarine Freeway north of CityLink were all considered.

The business case said the planned tolling increases would come after improvements to existing roads.

The former government previously announced a deal with Transurban to build an extra lane on the Tullamarine Freeway from Melrose Drive to the Bolte Bridge.

The Coalition had also ruled out tolling existing roads in its plans for the link. Premier Daniel Andrews will today release the business case, and other related documents, in a budget-style lock up.

Former treasurer Michael O’Brien said today there was never a need to slug motorists to cover the cost of the link.

“There’s no need for any tolls except for East West Link itself,” he said on 3AW.

“That means that Victorians know the road should go ahead because the budget money is there to build it and Victoria needs the East West link, otherwise we are going to drown in congestion in years to come.”

Mr Andrews has not discussed an alternative option to the East West Link and has instead promised not to build the road, despite the possible cost of terminating the contract estimated at more than $1 billion.

The business case also revealed drivers who used the 6km link would have paid $5.50 during peak periods and $4.40 in non-peak times, according to the preferred tolls in 2012 dollar value.

Trucks above 4.5 tonnes and buses with 13 or more seats would have paid $16.50 in peak periods and $13.20 non-peak.

In 2021, when the road was expected to open, about 87,000 vehicles were expected to use the tunnels each day, with that number increasing to 110,000 a day in 2031.

Using those figures the business case predicted the road would bring in $151 million in toll revenue in 2021, ­increasing to $190 million in 2031.

The business case explained the option to build two 4.4km tunnels was the most expensive but the best option to give the greatest benefit to Victorian road users, businesses and the economy.

It predicted the travel time savings for car and commercial vehicle users would be worth $2.079 billion and the wider economic benefit for businesses due to the improved connectedness of Melbourne’s transport network would be $2.153 billion.

“The EWL is critical to Melbourne’s future,” the document said. “It will provide a much-needed alternative to the heavily used Monash and West Gate Freeways.

“The EWL will change the face of Melbourne.”

james.campbell@news.com.au