Sydney's NorthConnex motorway moves ahead

Proposed twin-tunnel project linking Sydney's M1 and M2 motorways gains momentum but heavy vehicles given no option

New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and Roads Minister Duncan Gay have announced the New South Wales Government has reached an agreement with Transurban and Westlink M7 shareholders to deliver the proposed NorthConnex motorway.

Subject to planning approval and an environmental impact statement, the motorway will see two 9km-long tunnels built to link the city’s M1 and M2 motorways, circumventing the traffic-choked Pennant Hills Road in the process.

Should the project be given the green light, Gay said work could begin within the next 12 months and be completed by 2019.

O’Farrell said the project would have a major impact on traffic flows in the city’s northwest.

“NorthConnex will significantly ease traffic congestion in Sydney by taking up to 5000 trucks a day off Pennant Hills Road, while vehicles using the tunnel will bypass 21 sets of traffic lights,” he said.

The tunnels will initially have two lanes running in each direction, with the capacity to be increased three lanes if required.

The $3 billion project, to be constructed in a joint venture between Lend Lease and Bouygues, will largely be funded through tolls complemented by state and federal contributions of up to $405 million each.

The tolls will be aligned with those currently charged on Sydney’s M2: $6.11 for cars and $18.32 for trucks.

In a media release Gay states that NorthConnex will drastically cut the number of trucks using Pennant Hills Road.

“Pennant Hills Road has six lanes of traffic which currently carry about 80,000 vehicles each day including 10,000 heavy vehicles – more than double the average proportion of heavy vehicles on NSW roads,” he said.

“At least 30 per cent of the light vehicles and 50 per cent of the heavy vehicles currently using Pennant Hills Road are forecast to use the NorthConnex tunnel.”

However, in a report published by The Sydney Morning Herald, Gay said heavy vehicles that continue to use Pennant Hills Road after NorthConnex was opened would be fined.

“We are looking at a fine to ensure heavy vehicles use NorthConnex once it’s open to traffic in 2019,” he told the newspaper.

Trucks making local deliveries, smaller trucks and those not permitted to use the tunnels would be allowed to continue to use Pennant Hills Road.

The tunnels will have a height of 5.3m – 0.7m higher than most of Sydney’s other tunnels – to further reduce the likelihood of accidents involving overheight vehicles.

Should NorthConnex proceed through the remaining approval phases, it will allow vehicles to travel from Newcastle to Melbourne without passing a single traffic light.

Sydney's NorthConnex motorway moves ahead

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