WestConnex’s M4-M5 Link tunnels comes with pledge

WestConnex’s project director for the M4-M5 Link tunnels of the $16 billion toll road has vowed to minimise impact to residents as 27 roadheaders are readied to burrow two 7.5km tunnels between Haberfield and St Peters.

• WestConnex to take park
• Residents surprised as tunnel depths refined

WestConnex’s project director for the M4-M5 Link tunnels of the $16 billion toll road has vowed to minimise impact to residents as 27 roadheaders are readied to burrow two 7.5km tunnels between Haberfield and St Peters.

M4-M5 Link project director Terry Chapman said he expected the construction dive (burrowing down before beginning the tunnels) would start in March, and would take “a number of months” before the tunnels could be started.

WestConnex project director Terry Chapman. Picture: John Fotiadis

The tunnels will each provide four lanes of traffic. Vehicles will travel below suburbs including Leichhardt, Annandale, Stanmore and Newtown.

The finishing touches are being put on the M4 East tunnels between Homebush and Haberfield ahead of opening later this year, and work is ramping up on the final stage of WestConnex. This includes the Rozelle interchange and Iron Cove Link.

A map of the WestConnex project.

Mr Chapman said up to 27 roadheaders would excavate from different locations in the interest of getting the job done as quickly as possible.

“We’ve got roadheaders in every direction on every ramp, and in some cases we’ll have two roadheaders in the same tunnel,” he said.

“That’s to speed the process up and get it done as quickly as we can.”

A roadheader like those used to make the WestConnex tunnels. Picture: WestConnex

Mr Chapman hoped that speed would minimise disruption to neighbours. Neighbours in earlier stages have criticised the project over noise, property damage, visual and air pollution.

The M4-M5 Link works has works sites at Northcote Rd at Glebe, Pyrmont Bridge Rd at Annandale and the St Peters interchange.

The former Muirs Holden site at Parramatta, Ashfield, will be used as a depot.

An artists impression of how the Rozelle area will look after WestConnex is completed. Picture: WestConnex

Mr Chapman said the biggest challenges were logistical ones.

“It’s a shotcrete-lined tunnel so you have a lot of concrete. It’s getting all the spoil out to disposal sites,” he said.

“It’s a logistical challenge because you’re building in a built-up area and we’re concerned about the impact on residents.

“That puts constraints on us with noise and other impacts on residents.

“But they’re our neighbours. We want to look after them.

“We’ve got to keep the roads open during the day and we can’t impact traffic.”

As the Courier reported in December, WestConnex refined the tunnel depths for this stage — in some locations as shallow as 15m.

A WestConnex spokeswoman said the average depth was about 35m and geotechnical checks would be made to ensure no damage to properties.

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