‘Stop Los Angelesisation of Sydney inner west’: WestConnex Rozelle overpass slammed
The Mayor of a Sydney council area copping “untold stress” from the 33km WestConnex project says enough is enough with the LA-style overpasses.
Inner West
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been urged to stop the “Los Angelesisation” of Sydney’s inner west after new plans were rolled out today for “yet another overpass” in the $16.8 billion WestConnex project.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne lashed out at the State Government’s amended proposal for the $3.9 billion Rozelle “underground” interchange, where a two-lane overpass which would sit up to 8m above the intersection of the City West Link and The Crescent.
It follows the enormous above-ground “spaghetti junction” at St Peters, which is under construction.
“The overpass belongs in LA — not the inner west,” Cr Byrne said. “Not content with a spaghetti junction at St Peters, the government now wants to build a massive concrete overpass in Rozelle.
“The multi-lane overpass will have the same damaging visual impact on the Bays Precinct as the Cahill Expressway has had on Circular Quay.
“The government’s assertions that this gigantic interchange would be entirely built underground were always laughable.
“It is clear the road builders have been given carte blanche to amend or ignore conditions of consent, as has happened at every stage of WestConnex.”
The Labor Mayor accused the government of treating the inner-west community with “utter contempt” throughout the entire WestConnex project.
“(This includes) throwing people out of their homes, ripping the heart of precious heritage areas, and causing untold stress and destruction along the way,” Cr Byrne said.
The latest 800m-long overpass is designed to accommodate extra traffic expected in the longer term from the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel, which will run from Rozelle under Sydney Harbour to the north shore.
There would be an additional 15m-wide ‘green link’ built between new parkland at the site of the old Rozelle rail yards and a light rail stop at Rozelle Bay.
Documents show the Rozelle interchange — the “crucial” final stage of the 33km-long WestConnex project — will also have a new 4m-wide bridge for cyclists and pedestrians. It will also be built over the roadway to connect Rozelle Bay to the 10 hectares of parkland.
A Transport for NSW spokesman said the Rozelle interchange would be built mostly underground, as outlined in its planning approval in April 2018.
“TfNSW has consulted with Inner West Council extensively on the proposed modification through briefings with council officers and councillors,” the spokesman said.
“The changes in the modification are subject to approval by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.”
Cr Byrne said the council would formally object to the proposed overpass designs, which are on public exhibition until September 18.