Beaches Link: Plans for underground motorway should be “resurrected’. MP say

There is a new twist in a push for a new underground Sydney motorway, which supporters say will smash terrible traffic congestion for decades to come.

An artist’s impression of new recreation space at Balgowlah that would be created of the Beaches Link twin tunnels were ever built. Picture: NSW Government.

There is a new twist in a push for the Beaches Link tunnels to link the northern beaches with the rest of Sydney.

Liberal MP for Pittwater Rory Amon has urged the new Labor government to ‘resurrect’ plans that would lead to twin 7.5km underground toll roads stretching from Balgowlah and Seaforth to Cammeray.

Mr Amon said if Roads Minister John Graham doesn’t want Beaches Link — which has divided opinion on the northern beaches — then he should set aside more money to fix local traffic congestion “pinch points” including the entirety of Warringah Rd”.

Labor had said it would ditch the Beaches Link if it won the March 2023 election.

Rory Amon, the Liberal state MP for Pittwater, has called on the Labor Government to change its mind and revive plans for the Beaches Link. Picture: Supplied

In the led up to that election the then Coalition government said it out the plan in the backburner due to surging construction costs and global labour shortages and would use the money for other transport priorities.

And in December last year a parliamentary committee recommended plans for the Beaches Link be scrapped because the Coalition wasn’t able to properly explain the benefits of building it and how much it would cost.

Former NSW Roads Minister Andrew Constance (right) with Liberal State MP for Manly, James Griffin, during a press conference at Ridge Street Lookout in North Sydney in March 2021, ahead of the start of work on the Warringah Freeway upgrade, which paves the way for the future Western Harbour Tunnel and a proposed Beaches Link. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Government planners also failed to consider public transport links as a viable alternative to the proposed tunnels, the Upper House’s Public Works Committee found. The committee was chaired by Labor’s now Treasurer, Daniel Moohkey.

The committee was investigating the impact of the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.

An artist's impression of the ventilation chimney to be built near Wakehurst Parkway as part of the proposed Beaches Link tunnel. Picture: NSW Government

But Mr Amon said the Link must be resurrected because of its “clear benefits” to the community.

He said independent forecasts by Transport for NSW showed, for example, that by 2037, it would reduce travel times from Balgowlah to Sydney CBD by up to 38 minutes, 56 minutes from Dee Why to Sydney Airport and 32 minutes from Manly to Macquarie Park.

Traffic on Spit Rd would be slashed by one-third and by up to 23 per cent on Warringah Rd, Mr Amon said.

The Beaches Link plan has split local opinion. Parents of Balgowlah Boys’ High students, and neighbouring residents, protesting against the proposal outside the school on Sydney Rd Balgowlah. AAP/Adam Yip

“The Labor government’s cancellation of Beaches Link Tunnel will see Pittwater and the Northern Beaches community worse off. Given the significant benefits of Beaches Link, I ask the government to reconsider its cancellation.”

Mr Amon said Beaches Link would have improved congestion on the A8 corridor between the northern beaches and North Sydney, which includes Pittwater Rd. In its priority list report, Infrastructure Australia stated that the A8 corridor between the northern beaches and North Sydney was one of the five most congested routes in Sydney.

Last month independent MP for Wakehurst Michael Regan called on transport authorities to upgrade the intersection of Pittwater and Warringah roads at Dee Why.

Mr Regan described the location, which he referred to as the “Officeworks” intersection, as a “dangerous and time-wasting bottleneck” for northern beaches motorists and residents.

An overview of the Beaches Link project.

He said the proposal, using a cutting or tunnel, would allow vehicles to swing onto Warringah Rd from Pittwater Rd without having to stop at traffic lights.

Mr Amon said if the current government stuck with the cancellation of Beaches Link, there would be reduced opportunities to ease local traffic congestion.

“I fear that over the coming years, our community will be left with worsening gridlock, especially as the government foists population and significant development growth

upon us.

“I urge the government to allocate funding in the September budget for pinch point

planning works across the northern beaches State Road network.”

Work could include new turning bays, slip lanes, flyover bridges or underpasses, more bus

bays and pedestrian bridges, Mr Amon suggested.

In May Minister Graham told parliament in Question Time that the Legislative Council’s Public Accountability and Works Committee was “crystal clear”.

“The project did not stack up,” he said.

On Friday a spokesman for the Minister said Beaches Link was not a priority project for NSW and confirmed the Minns Government has cancelled it.

“The decision not to proceed is in line with the recommendation of Infrastructure NSW.

“We now know that the Coalition was not committed to Beaches Link, having budgeted a little over $1 million over the next four years to this multi-billion dollar project.

“Transport for NSW will continue to undertake road network reviews to assess what network improvements may be required.”