acciona, sydney, Western Harbour Tunnel,
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$4.24 billion contract for Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel Stage two to be designed and delivered by ACCIONA, with construction beginning in late 2023.
ACCIONA explored an alternative design using tunnelling under the harbour floor with a Tunnel-Boring Machine (TBM), thereby avoiding dredging. Working with Transport for NSW and the NSW Government, ACCIONA improved the design and developed a solution delivering a reduced environmental impact. It also significantly minimises the impact on recreational and commercial harbour users and marine biodiversity.
Bede Noonan, ACCIONA’s Chief Executive Officer for the Infrastructure business in Australia and New Zealand, said it was an honour for ACCIONA to be awarded such an iconic project that will be recognised for its significance in engineering and design on a global scale and, most importantly, for the positive impact it will have on the community and environment.
“I am extremely proud of the ACCIONA team for being bold and presenting a creative solution that focused on the community and environmental impact of a project at this scale,” says Acciona Chief Executive Officer Bede Noonan.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new Western Harbour Tunnel would provide a western bypass of the CBD, taking pressure off other major roads across the city and helping commuters move around more easily.
“We are transforming the way Sydneysiders move around our great city, delivering on our vision for a better-connected road network that reduces congestion and helps people get to where they need to be quickly and safely,” says NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
“The historic Western Harbour Tunnel will cut travel times from Sydney Olympic Park to North Sydney by 20 minutes and significantly reduce traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Anzac Bridge,” says NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
The Western Harbour Tunnel will connect to WestConnex at the Rozelle Interchange, cross underneath Sydney Harbour between Birchgrove and Waverton, and connect with the Warringah Freeway near North Sydney via a 6.5-kilometre tunnel with three lanes in each direction.
The Western Harbour Tunnel will sit alongside other engineering feats in ACCIONA’s national portfolio, including the Sydney Opera House, Anzac Bridge and WestConnex M4-M5 Link Tunnels, as well as its international portfolio, including the Follo Line project in Norway and the Cebu Bridge in the Philippines.
“With a rich Australian history and a global company’s expertise, ACCIONA has the knowledge and experience to deliver projects that are distinctive for their innovation, environmental sustainability, and social purpose. We aim to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy through technical excellence in all our projects, including the Western Harbour Tunnel,” says Acciona Chief Executive Officer Bede Noonan.
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the new tunnel would be constructed underground with Tunnel Boring Machines instead of being an Immersed Tube Tunnel.
“We’ve collaborated with industry to come up with the best outcome for the local community and the environment, which involves tunnelling underneath the harbour seabed rather than building a tunnel on top of the seabed,” says Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward.
“We know our population is growing, and this is how we make sure our infrastructure keeps pace, supporting a strong economy and a brighter future for everyone in NSW, not just those who use this tunnel,” says Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward.
Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson said her community would benefit significantly from the project, which will redirect traffic off rat runs on local streets and see the delivery of more green open space.
“Tunnelling means we no longer need construction sites at Balls Head and Berrys Bay in Waverton,” says Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson.
“I’m enormously excited to be able to return Berrys Bay to the local community and deliver 1.9 hectares of beautiful foreshore parkland and public space, even earlier than planned,” says Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson.
Once complete, the Western Harbour Tunnel will cut traffic by 35 per cent in the Western Distributor, 20 per cent in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and 17 per cent on the Harbour Bridge.
Construction of stage one is already underway. Further community consultation will take place next year ahead of significant work on stage two in late 2023 and will continue for approximately five years.
Source: © 2022 ACCIONA | © State of New South Wales
Image source: © 2022 ACCIONA
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