{"id":4389,"date":"2019-11-26T11:14:41","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T11:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=4389"},"modified":"2019-11-26T11:14:41","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T11:14:41","slug":"new-harbour-crossing-a-step-closer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2019\/11\/26\/new-harbour-crossing-a-step-closer\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW HARBOUR CROSSING A STEP CLOSER"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travelling under Sydney\u2019s famous harbour is a step closer to being faster and more reliable with the first stages of the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link Program moving to the next stage of the planning process.
\nMinister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance confirmed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade will go on public display in early January 2020, allowing the community more time to have their say.
\n\u201cThe Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link Program is an important part of the NSW Government\u2019s vision to create an integrated transport network and listening to the community will help inform the final outcome,\u201d Mr Constance said.
\n\u201cThis is a program of works our city desperately needs to ease congestion. Currently\u00a0 4.3 million passenger trips are made across Sydney Harbour each week, making the Warringah Freeway one of the busiest and most complex roads in the country.
\n\u201cThis program will help to ease pressure on the road network and commuters, with a direct connection to WestConnex it will also bust congestion on the Anzac Bridge, Western Distributor and Sydney Harbour Bridge corridor.\u201d
\nMr Constance said travel times will be slashed once this part of the work is complete. \u201cThe first part of the program will deliver huge time savings, both for drivers and for public transport customers,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cCommuters travelling from Leichhardt to North Sydney will save 20 minutes off their trip. It\u2019ll also save 15 minutes for anyone travelling from North Sydney to the Airport and up to 25 minutes off a trip between Parramatta and Manly.
\n\u201cBus customers will also experience time-savings with a continuous southbound bus lane on the Warringah Freeway from Miller Street to the Sydney Harbour Bridge plus new direct connections to the Victoria Cross Metro station at North Sydney.
\n\u201cAccess will also improve for cyclists and pedestrians across the project, including new and enhanced paths along and across the Warringah Freeway and Wakehurst Parkway.\u201d
\nThe NSW Government has also committed to enhancing public spaces upon completion of the project and delivering quick wins for locals along the way. At Berrys Bay improved public access to the beach will be delivered before construction begins.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve already received some really important feedback on the program and I want to thank the local community for helping us with that,\u201d Mr Constance said.
\n\u201cWe will be working with the original landscape architect for Yurulbin Park to deliver some really great outcomes there. We\u2019ve also heard the community\u2019s views on Berrys Bay and we can confirm a new public space will be developed at that site once this project is complete. We\u2019ll also be working closely with local council and the community to deliver new and improved recreational and sports facilities at Balgowlah.\u201d
\nThe planning process for the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link Program will be staged, in line with other infrastructure projects of this scale, such as Sydney Metro. The EIS for the Beaches Link is expected to be available for public exhibition from mid-2020.
\nThe program includes:<\/p>\n