Sydney's Western Harbour Tunnel gets planning approval

Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel gets planning approval

The NSW Government has granted planning approval for the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade. Contract awards are now expected to be given in the first quarter of 2021.

Planning approval makes way for the government to deliver the first stage of the project which will be to upgrade four kilometres of the Warringah Highway.

A survey will then be undertaken with local residents and businesses in early 2021, to ensure the project team will understand and can mitigate impacts of construction.

The community can also respond to the Beaches Link Environmental Impact Statement which will be on public exhibition until 1 March 2021.

Following the award of contracts construction is also expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021.

Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the mega-project includes a 6.5 kilometre tunnel, with three lanes in each direction, which will help slash travel times from North Sydney to Sydney Olympic Park by up to 20 minutes.

“The Western Harbour Tunnel will take pressure off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Anzac Bridge and Western Distributor corridors to revolutionise transport capacity in and around our city,” Constance said.

“The new tunnel will start at the new Rozelle Interchange and head under the Harbour to the Warringah Freeway, and will integrate new and existing public transport connections.”

It is expected that the tunnel and freeway upgrade and the Beaches Link is expected to support around 15,000 full time jobs.