WestConnex Rozelle interchange works begin near City West Link

Rozelle residents fear their neighbourhood will be engulfed by construction vehicles and motorists rat-running as WestConnex workers begin examining the rail yards as part of the last stage of the $16 billion toll road project.

Peter Hehir on the pedestrian bridge over Victoria Rd at Rozelle. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

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Rozelle residents fear their neighbourhood will be engulfed by construction vehicles and motorists rat-running as WestConnex workers begin examining the rail yards as part of the last stage of the $16 billion toll road project.

Contractors at the disused rail yards have started drilling in geotechnical surveys for the Rozelle interchange, part of the M4 to M5 link.

The interchange will provide a twin-tunnel from Victoria Rd, east of the Iron Cove Bridge, to Anzac Bridge and the M5 Link at St Peters.

An artist’s impression of how the Rozelle interchange will look. Picture: NSW Government

It will also provide an underground connection to the Iron Cove Link and proposed Western Habour Tunnel and Beaches Link, as well as surface connections to City West Link, The Crescent and Anzac Bridge.

A number of shops on the perimeter of the rail yards at Lilyfield Rd stand empty, and will be demolished as part of the works.

Rozelle Against WestConnex convener Peter Hehir lives north of the Rozelle tunnel site at Burt St and is worried by what is coming.

“There will be a significant increase in traffic during construction,” he said.

Peter Hehir. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Up to 517 heavy vehicles and 350 light vehicles are expected daily during construction at the tunnel site, according to WestConnex figures.

The heavy vehicles will travel via the City West Link, while the light ones will travel via Lilyfield Road.

Mr Hehir and neighbours are appealing for construction vehicles to keep off other roads.

A spokesman for Roads and Maritime Services, which is overseeing the Rozelle interchange, said movement of WestConnex construction vehicles was outlined in the environmental impact statement.

Community distaste for WestConnex is plain to see at Rozelle. Picture: Mitchell Van Homrigh

The document contained vehicle route details and assessed construction traffic impacts on the roads, according to the spokesman.

There was also a traffic, transport and access management plan, he said.

This plan sets out measures to minimise the impact of construction traffic on local residents.

The tunnel site is one of four work sites for the interchange. Construction vehicles will also be travelling to and from The Crescent, Victoria Rd and Iron Cove.

Mr Hehir said many residents who moved to the peninsula were anxious their neighbourhood was about to become the entry and exit to a motorway.

The Rozelle rail yards will be converted to green space as part of the project. Picture: NSW Government

“When you get motorway traffic meeting the local traffic of the City West Link, it’s going to be horrible,” he said.

“Traffic will be coming from Anzac Bridge and Victoria Rd, they all have to meet and interchange here. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

He believed many motorists would resort to rat-running through streets like his to avoid the interchange.

A spokeswoman for Roads and Maritime Services said extensive traffic modelling was undertaken for the interchange.

How the Rozelle interchange fits in the broader WestConnex project

This would ensure the motorway was appropriately integrated with surrounding roads, she said.

Once all WestConnex stages were built, traffic forecasts showed there would be less traffic on most inner west roads than before, according to the spokeswoman.

She said this finding was supported by detailed traffic modelling carried out by RMS which showed average travel speeds in the inner west would increase by 10 per cent by 2023.

Mr Hehir also worries about health impacts from the exhaust fumes to be emitted by three unfiltered ventilation outlets, and the possibility of tunnelling cracking homes above.

The RMS spokeswoman said the ventilation system was designed in line with best practice and met strict guidelines on air quality.

She said residents within 50m of the tunnel would be offered property condition surveys before and after tunnelling.

The RMS is also organising a property impact assessment panel, which it says will independently review damage claims.

The M4-M5 Link is due to open in 2022. The Rozelle interchange is due to open in 2023.

FULL RMS RESPONSE

“The movement of WestConnex construction vehicles is clearly outlined in the relevant Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

“The EIS contains details of construction vehicle routes and an assessment of construction traffic impacts on the local road network.

“Accompanying this are detailed plans, including a traffic, transport and access management plan. This plan sets out measures to minimise the impact of construction traffic on local residents.

“These plans are all developed in consultation with relevant councils, emergency services and others — and are approved by the Department of Planning and Environment.

“WestConnex construction contractors must comply these plans and heavy vehicle movements are regularly monitored.

“Incidents of noncompliance are reported to NSW Roads and Maritime and the Department of Planning and Environment.

“All WestConnex spoil haulage vehicles are clearly marked as such and carry GPS to encourage route compliance and enable enforcement.”