With tunnelling reaching the halfway point last week, local, state and federal politicians gathered at the NorthConnex Thornleigh depot to mark this significant milestone. Premier Gladys Berejiklian was joined by Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher and Minister for Transport Andrew Constance along with Member for Hornsby Matt Kean, Member for Berowra Julian Leeser and Mayor Philip Ruddock to see the project ‘powering towards the finish line’
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, “Once complete, motorists will be able to travel from Newcastle to Melbourne without stopping at a single set of lights.”
NorthConnex will save up to 15 minutes of travel time compared to using Pennant Hills Road, letting people spend more time with their families and less time in traffic.
“Twenty roadheaders are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver this long overdue piece of vital infrastructure and once completed it will form part of the National Highway route,” said the Premier.
State Hornsby MP Matt Kean said more than 1.3 million cubic metres of spoil had been removed from the project so far. “
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,” Mr Kean said.
“Tunnelling is progressing well at around 400 metres per week with light at the end of the tunnel for motorists.” Federal Berowra MP Julian Leeser said local motorists were counting down until the project’s opening.
“Motorists using NorthConnex will bypass 21 sets of traffic lights on Pennant Hills Road and if used as an alternative route to the Sydney CBD, will avoid up to 40 sets of traffic lights on the Pacific Highway,” Mr Leeser said.
The 20th roadheader was recently delivered to the site, and has been named Claire.
Article appeared in The Bush Telegraph September 28th
