Work has started on the upgrade to the Warringah Freeway, which will pave the way for the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link, and transform the way the community moves between western Sydney and Sydney's north.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said more than 15,000 jobs will be created during construction for the NSW Government's Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link Program, with about 600 people working on the freeway upgrade.
"Workers are donning hard hats for the first time on this city-shaping project to begin work on the Warringah Freeway, which includes service and utility relocations, before major work starts later this year," Mr Constance said.
"The Warringah Freeway upgrade is just the first stage of this massive program, which will connect western Sydney to Sydney's north and help slash travel times for thousands of commuters by up to 56 minutes."
Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson said the four kilometre upgrade, between North Sydney and Naremburn, will reduce lane merging, boost safety, and improve traffic flow for the 250,000 vehicles who use the freeway every day.
"This upgrade is part of our commitment to ease congestion on local roads and it will streamline the Warringah Freeway to connect to the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link," Ms Wilson said.
"Transport for NSW will deliver a continuous southbound bus lane from Miller Street to the Harbour Bridge, which will improve bus links to the North Sydney CBD and the new Sydney Metro, while also building new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure."
Member for Manly James Griffin said the community will be kept updated throughout all phases of this massive program.
"The Warringah Freeway is the main artery from Sydney's north into the heart of the CBD, and this game-changing project will help people spend less time sitting in traffic and more time with family and friends," Mr Griffin said.
"Community feedback on the entire program has been valuable in helping understand and deliver positive changes. We will continue to work closely with the local communities through every stage of this major program."
The Western Harbour Tunnel will deliver major travel time savings, including
- Up to 20 minutes from Sydney Olympic Park to North Sydney.
- Up to 20 minutes from Leichhardt to North Sydney.
- Up to 15 minutes from North Sydney to the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
- Up to 20 minutes on the city commute from locations such as Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield, Forestville, Belrose, Frenchs Forest, Cromer and North Narrabeen.
Combined with improvements to the wider network, future forecast travel time savings for Beaches Link include:
- Up to 38 minutes from Balgowlah to Sydney CBD.
- Up to 56 minutes from Dee Why to Sydney Airport.
- Up to 54 minutes from Frenchs Forest to Rozelle.
Drivers are encouraged to visit the online portal at nswroads.work/whtportal to have a virtual experience of what their commute will look like when the program is complete.
