Gladys Berejiklian announcement on northern beaches tunnel at Spit Bridge

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the start of the long-awaited northern beaches tunnel — and at least 70 properties could be reclaimed under the plan.

A tunnel has been announced to pass through the northern beaches.

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A TUNNEL allowing northern beaches commuters to bypass the Spit Bridge is closer to reality with Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing a $77 million geotechnical investigation starting next month.

But 71 properties could be bulldozed for the Beaches Link Tunnel, including parts of Seaforth and Balgowlah, and Ms Berejiklian has warned it could be higher.

The exact entry point to access the tunnel and final cost of building it, once touted as $3 billion, are yet to be confirmed.

However, Ms Berejiklian proclaimed the study as the “first real action on the ground”.

It’s hoped the tunnel would alleviate traffic on the Spit Bridge. Picture: Braden Fastier

The plans would connect Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation with the Warringah Freeway and the incoming Western Harbour Tunnel.

The Wakehurst Parkway would be widened to two lanes in each direction, and also connected to the tunnel between Seaforth and Frenchs Forest.

It follows a Manly Daily campaign to have a commitment from the State Government to build the long-promised tunnel as part of a solution to crippling traffic congestion.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the announcement. Picture: Virginia Young

The studies will start after Easter when the State Government will also begin feeling out the private sector over funding options, which would likely include a toll.

The Premier, joined On Thursday at the foot of the Spit Bridge by Roads Minister Melinda Pavey, was scant on specific details.

“The geotechnical work will take six to nine months — there will be about 250 sites (tested) along the route and by mid-next year, we will be able to come back to the community to say what the exact route is, exactly how we will fund the project and exactly what the final cost is,” she told reporters.

Last month, former Health Minister and outgoing North Shore MP Jillian Skinner released news that a tunnel had been given a “green light” Picture: AAP.

Ms Pavey said construction would take at least five years, but could not say when it would begin.

“We are getting the groundwork right so we can be in a position to give the lives back to the people of the northern beaches,” she said.

“When you are travelling an average of 12km/h on a road — that is not good for commuters.”

The tunnel is expected to bypass up to 19 sets of traffic lights and cut 40 minutes in travel time between Brookvale and the CBD. It would also cut 45 minutes between Manly and Parramatta.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey expected to announce commitment to build the Nth Beaches and second Harbour Tunnel at the Marine Rescue Office

The Premier said the tunnel will reduce travel times for bus commuters by up to 40 per cent.

The RMS was expected to start contacting impacted property owners on Thursday, and will continue to do so across the coming days.

“We will have to notify 71 property owners that they are likely to be impacted, we won’t know for certain until the geotech work is complete,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“I do want to foreshadow that as work is completed there may be other property owners we need to notify.”

The Government will host a range of information session starting in April.

The announcement from the State Government was timely — the day after the Liberal Party announced its candidates for the April 8 by-elections planned in the electorates either side of the Spit Bridge.

But Ms Berejiklian denied the announcement, which has been a perennial election promise, was again being pulled out to gain votes.

The Spit Bridge

“People were cynical when we announced the North West Rail Link, people were cynical when we announced the South West Rail Line and they were cynical when we announced WestConnex,” she said.

“This is no different. But what I want to stress is we have taken a lot of leanings from those previous projects and are applying it to this project.”

Former premier and outgoing Manly MP Mike Baird said it was a fantastic day, and “it is a day I think everyone on the northern beaches has waited for”. He also said he was confident his former government would be sympathetic to residents.

“Of course there is a personal impact. There are people being contacted whose houses are very likely to be acquired, we can’t lose sight that there is a personal loss to those families,” he said.

NRMA director Tim Trumper has called for the construction to be fast-tracked. Picture: Braden Fastier.

Mr Baird said there would be a “generous valuation, a transition program, and no stamp duty on a new home purchase”.

The NRMA yesterday welcomed the announcement but local director Tim Trumper said construction needed to be fast-tracked.

“The endless delays experienced daily by residents along the northern beaches is simply unacceptable and the congestion effects motorists and public transport users,” he said.

 

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