Western Harbour Tunnel: New link from Rozelle to North Sydney approved

Plans to bore a new tunnel under Sydney Harbour, linking the M4 Smart Motorway to North Sydney have been decided by the NSW Government overnight.

A multibillion-dollar vision to provide motorists a new link from the M4 Smart Motorway at the Rozelle Interchange to North Sydney in the new Western Harbour Tunnel — as well as major upgrades to the Warringah Freeway — have received the tick of approval by the NSW Government overnight.

Blueprints for the new Western Harbour Tunnel, expected to cost a massive $14 billion alongside the Beaches Link, include a proposal to bore the new link under Rozelle, Balmain and Birchgrove, before diving further under Sydney Harbour, Waverton and North Sydney to link to the Warringah Freeway.

Western Harbour Tunnel. Warringah Freeway Upgrade. Supplied

Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said the new 6.5km tunnel under Sydney Harbour would slash travel times from Sydney Olympic Park to North Sydney by up to 20 minutes, confirming the tunnel would include three lanes in each direction.

“The Western Harbour Tunnel will take pressure off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Anzac Bridge and Western Distributor corridors to revolutionise transport capacity in and around our city,” Mr Constance said.

“The new tunnel … will integrate new and existing public transport connections.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister Transport and Roads Andrew Constance mark a significant milestone for the City & Southwest Metro project today in Sydney, Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Constance said as many as 15,000 people would be employed to work on the new Sydney Harbour Tunnel, freeway upgrade and Beaches Link.

While Planning Minister Rob Stokes forecast major reductions in congestion on some of Sydney’s busiest roads.

“Planning approval means the NSW Government can get on with delivering the first stage, which is an upgrade to one of Sydney’s busiest and most complex road corridors, 4km of the Warringah Freeway,” Mr Stokes said.

The journey towards Western Harbour Tunnel. Supplied

The government will investigate options for more cycleways and footpaths around the replacing of trees along the construction route, while businesses and residents will survey residents to reduce to impact of construction on the community.