M6 Motorway: Construction groups CPB Contractors, UGL, Ghella to build $2.52b tunnels

Congestion-busting twin tunnels will slash travel times for residents in Sydney’s south, with the NSW Government announcing who would build the project. Watch the video.

Billion-dollar plans to dramatically slash travel times and traffic on major arterial roads in Sydney’s south are one step closer to reality, with the NSW Government awarding design and construction contracts for stage one of the M6 motorway.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed the $2.52 billion contract to link President Ave at Kogarah with the WestConnex M8 at Arncliffe had been awarded to CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors and UGL through a joint venture with tunnel construction company Ghella.

$2.52 billion plans for the M6 linking President Ave at Kogarah with the WestConnex M8 at Arncliffe

Mr Constance said the 4km twin tunnels — expected to reduce travel times between Kogarah and the Anzac Bridge, as well as Miranda and Macquarie Park by 15 minutes — would create more than 5000 construction jobs.

Construction is expected to start on the project early next year, with planning documents suggesting tolls would be a flat rate of $1.77 each way for cars. Meanwhile trucks and other heavy vehicles could be charged $5.31 each way.

“We are returning local roads to the local community, by allowing drivers to bypass up to 23 sets of traffic lights on the Princes Highway and reducing traffic on General Holmes Drive by 10,000 vehicles every day,” Mr Constance said on Monday morning.

“The M6 Stage 1 is expected to see a 40 per cent reduction in trucks on the Princes Highway north of President Ave, which will be great news for the local community and local commuters.”

Intersections on President Ave will be upgraded.

While Miranda state Liberal MP Eleni Petinos said a new intersection at Presidential Ave and upgrades to the Princes Highway would improve capacity of the road network.

Travel times between Kogarah and the city’s south are expected to be reduced by 13 minutes, while the trip from Taren Point to Mascot will see travel time savings of 12 minutes.

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Transport for NSW forecast the twin tunnels, which will have the capacity to be expanded to three lanes each way, will be open to motorists by 2025.

Initial plans for the motorway have been in the pipeline since 1951, however, designs for the underground tunnels have been in the works since 2017.

Cyclists will also benefit from 5km of pathways connecting Bestic St at Brighton Le Sands to O’Connell Street at Kogarah as part of the project.

Bike path are included in the plans.

Following the release of plans in 2018, Bayside Council issued a series of concerns to the NSW Planning Department of the permanent loss of open space, increased traffic congestion, impact on protected wetlands and “10,000 cars exiting the tunnel onto President Ave, Kogarah per day”.

Council was one of 110 organisations and individuals to make submissions to the plans.

Council officers said there was a lack of planning for stage two of the project from Kogarah to Taren Point.

Concerns have been raised over the impact the project will have on local roads.

Meanwhile the F6 Action Group said the proposal was “not fit for purpose” following their release.

“The community has raised serious concerns regarding the F6 toll road because it is not

in the public interest,” an action group representative said at the time.

The group called on the enhancement of public transport options in an effort to prevent further congestion on local roads.

Shadow Roads spokesman John Graham said the announcement of a tender should have been announced in December last year.

“This is a major six-month delay and failure for the government,” he said.

“Stage one of the M6 will be a toll road to a toll road. And the fact that the minister refused to say when stage two will be announced is a major concern as well.

“Without stage two this is just a revenue measure for WestConnex, not a transport solution.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos May 17, 2021: Peter Khoury, NRMA Spokesperson speaking to media at a press conference in Martin Place, Sydney. The NRMA have today released a study on the costs and availabilty of parking in the Sydney Metro area. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the organisation had campaigned for the completion of the motorway for “many years”.

“This project is critical for job growth and opportunities in the Illawarra, but most importantly it will get people home quicker, he said. “The M6 is an important missing link, so we are pleased to see the government is progressing and we support this moves with this plan.”

When it came to the addition of another toll road, Mr Khoury said NRMA members were “very strong on choice when it comes to using motorways and toll-free roads”.