The Australian Steel Institute says recent tests by a National Association of Testing Authorities' approved assessor indicated at least 25per cent of safety rail posts were significantly below VicRoads' thickness specification, which is six millimetres, plus or minus 0.2millimetres

But ConnectEast, EastLink's managing body, has slammed the ASI, claiming it has created "unfounded safety concerns in pursuit of its commercial agenda against overseas steel imports''.

EastLink's Mulgrave-based independent reviewer Peter Balfe, of Sinclair Knight Merz, said quality inspections undertaken on EastLink and the Dandenong Southern By-pass confirmed the steel guard rail met the "safety and functional requirements'' of VicRoads.

"I am satisfied that steel guard rail on the project meets its functional purpose on the roadside, and this has also been accepted by VicRoads.''

The independent reviewer is employed directly by ConnectEast and the state, having no direct relationship with the construction contractor Thiess-John Holland.

ASI national manager of industry development Ian Cairns maintained the Australian steel industry held grave concerns that cost-cutting measures on the project may have allowed sub-standard guard rails to be installed.

"The local steel industry is dismayed that it has deployed expensive systems to ensure that its products meet regulators' specifications for the job, only to see non-conforming products accepted.

"It doesn't take an expert to recognise if sub-standard materials are used on what is essentially a road safety item, the potential for compromising the safety of that item increases markedly.''

ConnectEast's general manager of community relations and public affairs, James Tonkin, said independent testing had "verified'' that the steel guard rails on EastLink meet the safety requirements of VicRoads.

"Motorists should have no concerns whatsoever regarding these claims,'' he said.

"Safety is of paramount importance to ConnectEast. The quality of the EastLink construction is assured by the project's independent reviewer.''

SEITA director of communication Jo Weeks said the body was "satisfied'' with the quality of steel used on EastLink. VicRoads executive director of regional services Ted Vincent said the steel used met all functional requirements.