Sydney is advancing towards its first new road harbour crossing in nearly thirty years, as the completion of around one million tonnes of rock clears the path for the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Warringah Freeway upgrade. This marks a significant phase for both projects, which have been in progress since the Warringah Freeway works commenced in mid-2021.
The Western Harbour Tunnel is set to link the Warringah Freeway with the WestConnex M4 and M8 at the Rozelle Interchange. This development aims to alleviate traffic congestion on several of Sydney’s major routes, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge, ultimately streamlining one of the busiest roadways in Australia. It is projected that the tunnel will reduce travel times for motorists by up to twenty minutes and decrease overall traffic volume by as much as 35%.
Premier Chris Minns described the occasion as a “significant moment,” emphasising that it would greatly enhance city travel. He noted that they are now witnessing “light at the end of the Western Harbour Tunnel,” literally and metaphorically. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison compared the upgrades to “doing open heart surgery while trying to run a marathon,” highlighting the complexity of constructing these projects amidst ongoing traffic.
With the tunnelling now progressing, workers will construct two three-lane tunnels beneath the Sydney Harbour, connecting Birchgrove and Waverton, while concurrently upgrading the Warringah Freeway. This upgrade involves building new bridges, ramps, underpasses, and a dedicated bus lane to the CBD.
Currently, the freeway works are over 70% complete and are anticipated to finish by late 2026. However, the Western Harbour Tunnel is expected to open in 2028. Upon completion, it will become Sydney’s third harbour road crossing, heralding a new era of improved connectivity across the city.