About the project
The Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade is an important part of our vision to create an integrated road and public transport network, which balances the needs of motorists and local communities. You will experience improved transport connections with quicker access to public transport interchanges.
Improvements to walking and cycling routes will provide you with more shared transport options. You will also experience faster and more reliable bus journeys along Warringah Freeway with a continuous southbound bus lane from Miller Street to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Western Harbour Tunnel will enable future opportunities for new direct bus routes between the Inner West and North Sydney.
About the project
What is Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade?
The NSW Government’s vision for Sydney is one of an integrated road and public transport network that gives you the freedom to choose how and when you get around, no matter where you live and work.
One area of focus in Sydney is to complete the missing links in the motorway network to support the growth of our communities, places and economy, and enable people and goods to move safely and reliably around our city and beyond.
We know Sydney traffic can be frustrating, especially in peak hour. The Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade will change the way you travel across Sydney Harbour. This project will get you to places faster by improving capacity and providing new direct routes and reliability on both sides of the harbour.
This much needed new crossing of Sydney Harbour will be a game changer for our city. You will save time on your journeys and enjoy more direct bus routes between the Inner West, Sydney and North Sydney, with seamless connections to the future Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains.
We are pleased to announce the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade has been approved by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.
The project will be constructed and operated in accordance with the Ministers Conditions of Approval. A copy of these conditions can be found on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s (DPIE) website.
The Environmental Impact Statement was on exhibition from 29 January to 30 March 2020. This process provided an important opportunity for the community to provide feedback. The feedback you submitted was considered and responded to in a submissions report. This report is available here. We have submitted this report to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment who used it to inform the Conditions of Approval and the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces decision on the project.
Supporting NSW amid COVID-19
The health and safety of our workforce and the wider community will be top of mind as we carry out our work. This will include ensuring our workers follow the appropriate hygiene and social distancing guidelines.
Why we need Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade
Population in our great city is expected to grow from five million to eight million in the next 40 years.
We also expect to see Sydney’s economic output double by 2031. This includes significant growth in high-skilled jobs in the Global Economic Corridor, which stretches from Macquarie Park and Chatswood to North Sydney, the Sydney CBD and beyond to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Warringah Freeway and Eastern Distributor have been identified as among Australia’s 30 most congested roads.
Improvements to existing transport networks and the creation of new transport connections will be essential for our city to continue to have a competitive economy and meet the growing needs of our communities.
At-property noise treatment
We understand noise can be a source of disruption to local communities during the construction and operation of major road projects. To minimise the impact of our project on local residents, we are delivering at-property noise treatment to eligible properties. Noise treatment refers to architectural acoustic measures which aim to improve the sound resistance of properties, such as window and door upgrades.
We have developed a Noise Insulation Program which outlines the criteria and process for delivering noise treatment to affected properties as part of the project.
Providing at-property treatment is a complex process and involves a number of different steps. To learn more, see our fact sheet.
We are starting the process of delivering noise treatment before the project is approved so residents benefit from reduced noise as early as possible.
Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade Tender Hub - Contact us
Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway upgrade Tender Hub - Contact us
We are happy to coordinate virtual tutorials to explain the tools and techniques of the model as required.
Please raise a question in the RFT Data Room should you require any additional support.
Western Harbour Tunnel - Contact us
What is an EIS?
The EIS assesses the potential environmental and social impacts of the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade during construction and operation. The EIS also includes strategies to avoid, mitigate and manage the potential impacts of the project.
In the EIS, we cover topics such as traffic and transport, air quality, noise and vibration, construction and biodiversity impacts.
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) placed the EIS on exhibition from 29 January to 30 March 2020. This closing date was extended from 12 March following feedback from the community. During this time everyone had the opportunity to make submissions on the project. We are now working on a submissions report to respond to the issues raised. This report will be made public. All submissions made to DPIE are available on their website.
Make a submission
Have your say on Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade
How to make an online submission:
- Visit DPIE’s Major Projects website at planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects
- Create a user account by clicking the ‘Sign In’ icon in the top right of the homepage or under the ‘Services’ tab and then click the ‘Have Your Say’ link
- When you are logged in, find the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade project, and click the ‘Make a Submission’ icon.
How to make a hard copy submission:
You can submit a hard copy of your submission. If you want DPIE to delete your personal information before publication, please make this clear at the top of your letter. You need to include:
- your name and address, at the top of the letter only
- the name of the application and application number: SSI_8863
- a statement on whether you support or object to the proposal
- the reasons why you support or object to the proposal
- a declaration of any reportable political donations made in the previous two years.
You can hand deliver your submission to DPIE’s office, located at:
4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
You can post your submission to:
Attention: Director, Transport Assessments
Planning & Assessment, Department of Planning
Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124
Submissions must be received by DPIE before midnight 30 March 2020.
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