Australian engineering consultant, Sinclair Knight Merz, has proposed four tunnel options each costing about US$994M to connect the Western Sydney Orbital highway and Newcastle Freeway (F3) in New South Wales. If the project goes ahead, the tunnel would be the longest in Australia, double the length of the M5 East tunnels.
The options comprise: a 7.5km tunnel from West Pennant Hills through Thornleigh to the F3; an 8km tunnel from West Pennant Hills to the F3; a 6.5km tunnel from North Epping to the F3; and a 6.5km tunnel from the Macquarie Park toll plaza to the F3.
Once a period of public consultation has been completed, a final report would be submitted to federal transport minister John Anderson by the end of the year. Project manager Peter Prince said: “It is then up to the minister to decide” on the preferred route and operating details.
Construction could start in 2007, with completion in 2011.
