State government makes the most of quiet roads to fast-track major projects
Coronavirus restrictions have slashed traffic on Sydney roads, giving the state government the ability to fast-track major infrastructure projects and carry out vital maintenance work.
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Major infrastructure projects have been fast-tracked amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with the state government capitalising on a lack of traffic on the roads to hit fast-forward on vital works.
Roads and Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the reduced traffic had enabled the M5 East motorway resurfacing to be completed and for unique maintenance work to be planned for the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.
Extra work is also being undertaken at Sydney Airport at Mascot and on Parramatta’s light rail.
“The NSW government is pushing ahead with delivering $57.5 billion worth of transport infrastructure across the next four years, so it’s essential to keep moving during a time like this,” Mr Constance said.
He said that the sector supported 130,000 direct and indirect jobs.
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“Continuing work on critical transport infrastructure is great news for industry as thousands of jobs will be sustained in the coming months,” Mr Constance said.
“This work will also provide significant economic benefits to suppliers, manufacturers and supporting sectors.
“Earlier this month, the M5 East Motorway was completely closed to fast-track resurfacing work in the usually busy tunnels.
“This was a great result for drivers as the work usually would have been carried out across a number of weeks at night.
“Given the success of this work, we are now fast-tracking maintenance work in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.”
The Sydney Harbour Tunnel will be closed to traffic from Friday night until Monday morning as works are undertaken.
Vital work on the Parramatta Light Rail has also been fast-tracked, taking place around the clock until April 27.
Sydney Airport at Mascot was also given the green light for road work while flights are restricted and key roads around the town centre are quiet.
NSW Transport said other road improvements in Caringbah, Warringah and Bella Vista were also happening this month due to reduced traffic flows.
Mr Constance said it was vital the state kept moving, with the freight network extra busy this month delivering supplies across the state.
“People are relying on us to keep road and rail routes open so we can get food to supermarkets and important medical supplies to hospitals and medical centres across the state,” he said
Infrastructure projects run by the federal government are also being delivered amid the pandemic, with the latest section of the $1.6 billion Northern Rd upgrade in Western Sydney completed, as it considers what more can be done.
The 5.5km stretch of the Northern Rd was opened to traffic yesterday.
“The Morrison government had prioritised the importance of keeping vital infrastructure projects on track, including the Northern Rd, through the COVID-19 crisis,” Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge’s spokesman said.
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“States have brought forward projects and Mr Tudge and the Deputy Prime Minister are currently considering those.”
Mr Constance said the state government will ensure construction workers follow strict hygiene and social distancing rules while carrying out the works.
Cleaners across the transport network have worked an extra 83,000 hours since the beginning of March to boost sanitisation.