NORTHCONNEX is still on target to be opened in 2019 after the project reached a major milestone on Monday.
It has reached the halfway point of the project, which will connect the M2 in West Pennants Hills to the M1 entrance at Wahroonga via an underground tunnel.
The project is designed to take off thousands of trucks and cars off Pennant Hills Road, which is currently the only connection between the M1 and M2.
The project has 20 roadheaders working around the clock to dig the road tunnels.
Hornsby MP Matt Kean said NorthConnex said local residents should be excited with how the project is progressing.
“Today marks almost 11 out of 21 kilometres excavated with the project running on schedule. For those stuck on Pennant Hills Road each day the tunnel can’t come fast enough,” Mr Kean said.
“Currently tunnelling is progressing at around 400 metres per week which is good news for motorists.
“To date, around 500 Olympic sized swimming pools of spoil has been excavated from underneath homes and businesses and is being beneficially reused in projects throughout Sydney, including on the Hornsby Quarry rejuvenation project.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said NorthConnex will save 15 minutes of travel time.
“It is great to see the project powering towards the finish line,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Once complete, motorists will be able to travel from Newcastle to Melbourne without stopping at a single set of lights.”
Article by Warren Thomson appeared in the Hills News
