Problem

Travel demand across Sydney Harbour and onto the Northern Beaches is projected to increase, resulting in further congestion. Congestion on these corridors impacts on bus and private vehicle travel, with bus travel particularly impacted by congestion on the Spit Bridge/Military Road. The high levels of demand for existing infrastructure reflects the channelling of traffic onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel across Sydney Harbour, and the Spit Bridge across Middle Harbour.

The 2015 Australian Infrastructure Audit ranked the North Sydney–Northern Beaches Corridor as the 10th-most congested corridor in the wider Sydney region in 2011, and forecast 11th-most congested in 2031. The Gore Hill/ Warringah Freeway/Sydney Harbour Bridge/Eastern Distributor Corridor was ranked 12th in 2011, and, in the absence of additional capacity, it is projected to become the most congested corridor in New South Wales in 2031.

Proposed initiative

The initiative proposes a motorway crossing underneath Sydney Harbour, connecting WestConnex with the Warringah Freeway, and a motorway connection from the Warringah Freeway to Seaforth/Balgowlah on the northern side of Middle Harbour.

Next steps

Proponent to complete business case development (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).