Plans for the proposed tunnel stretch back to the 1950s, when the scheme was known as the F6 extension and a reserved corridor created for it. When eventually completed, it will extend from President Avenue, Kogarah to the WestConnex motorway in Arncliffe. Ventilation shafts are proposed at each end of the tunnel, one near the M6, the other near the underground connection to the M8.
Work on the parallel twin tunnels is expected to begin in early 2022 and be completed by 2025. The contractor will be CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors and UGL in a joint venture with Ghella.
As well as generally reducing traffic congestion, the tunnel is expected to allow motorists to bypass 23 sets of traffic lights and save 12 minutes off the current journey between Mascot and Taren Point, and 15 minutes off the journey between Kogarah and Anzac Bridge. Each one-way trip will cost motorists US$1.89.
Planning for Stage Two – to which the NSW government has already allocated approximately US$23.2m – has already begun and includes forming the business case and defining a preferred alignment.
