NorthConnex

Funding Program:	Investment Road and Rail Program
Status:	Under construction
Transport Mode:	Road
Expected Start/Finish:	Early 2015 - Late 2019
Estimated Project Cost:	$2,987,000,000
Australian Government Contribution:	$412,330,000
State:	NSW
Corridor:	Sydney Urban

Project Description

This project comprises the construction of dual road tunnels, approximately 9km in length, beneath Pennant Hills Road and the Northern Railway Line linking the M1 and M2 Motorways. Each of the tunnels will be built with a capacity for three lanes.

Benefits

The benefits of the NorthConnex project include:

reduction in traffic congestion on Pennant Hills Road and surrounding traffic network
quicker travel times between the M1 and the M2
a reduction in operating costs for national freight carriers and long-distance transport operators
a reduction in heavy traffic and associated noise in local streets
an improvement in local air quality
improved safety and productivity on local, intrastate and interstate freight movements
increased infrastructure capacity and efficiency
improved reliability of travel between the M1 and M2 and the Sydney to Brisbane Corridor

Funding

The Australian and NSW governments have each committed $412.33 million towards the NorthConnex project, including the use of Hornsby Quarry for spoil management.

The project is being delivered in partnership with the project's private sector sponsors, Transurban and the Westlink M7 Shareholders.

Timetable

Planning approval was received on 13 January 2015, along with submission and acceptance of the final binding offer as part of the Unsolicited Proposals process.

The NSW Government, Transurban and the Westlink M7 Shareholders reached Contract and Financial Close on 31 January 2015, which includes acceptance of the final offer from the preferred tenderer and reaching final agreement on funding. Lend Lease Bouygues Joint Venture was awarded the contract to design and build the project following Contract Close.

Construction started on 5 February 2015. Excavation of all mainline tunnels is expected to be complete in late 2018. Fit-out and road connections will follow, with the project expected to open to traffic by the end of 2019.

Photo Gallery

Pennant Hills Rd at Thornleigh — Pennant Hills Rd

Minister Tudge at the final tunnel breakthrough