Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has called on the NSW Government for a clear commitment to construct the long-considered traffic tunnel beneath Middle Harbour.
Speaking in NSW Parliament, Mr O’Dea said the tunnel would help alleviate the already crippling and costly traffic congestion on Spit and Military Roads, two of the busiest thoroughfares in Sydney. Figures show more vehicles use the Spit Bridge and Military Road than Parramatta Road at Camperdown.
“The NRMA has stated the Middle Harbour tunnel should be accelerated and shovel-ready as soon as possible. I agree,” Mr O’Dea said.
“Quicker travel times would have additional flow-on benefits for local traffic on the Lower North Shore and the Northern Beaches. For Northern Beaches residents, a road tunnel would clearly open up access to and from the City.
“The NSW State electorates of North Shore and Manly, both subject to upcoming by-elections, are at either end of the proposed works. Building the long awaited transport link would benefit the residents of these electorates and others for many generations.
“Buses using the tunnel would link to the new B-Line service being introduced on the Northern Beaches later this year. The tunnel would also help alleviate traffic travelling along the busy Warringah Road past Forestville and into the City, through my electorate of Davidson,” Mr O’Dea said.
The 2016 State Budget allocated $17 million to the Western Harbour Tunnel plan, which might include a Middle Harbour tunnel. The funding has already enabled details to be gathered on underground soil and rock conditions to help define design and development options.
A 2014 estimate put the cost of a Spit Bridge by-pass tunnel, linking the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at North Balgowlah to the Warringah Expressway at Cammeray, at about $2 billion. However, another estimate is $3.1 billion.
“I believe this project should proceed with joint public and private funding, supported by a fair toll, which I believe the public would readily accept,” Mr O’Dea said.
With State coffers healthy and the need clear, the timing is right to commit real dollars to this Northern Sydney project. It’s time to tunnel,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
