Thursday, 16 March 2017

Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea, has welcomed the Premier’s announcement today about the construction of the long-awaited Beaches Link tunnel beneath Middle Harbour.

Mr O’Dea has lobbied strongly for the tunnel and the improved travel times it would deliver for commuters to and from the northern beaches and north shore.

The Beaches Link will improve currently crippling traffic congestion on Spit and Military Roads and open up access to and from the City for residents on the northern beaches. It would link with other major road networks including a potential Western Harbour Tunnel.

“Traffic currently travelling along busy Warringah Road past Forestville, in my electorate of Davidson, will also have a speedy alternative route to the City. This should alleviate congestion and improve local traffic speeds.

“Today’s commitment of $77 million for geotechnical work to commence shortly along the preferred route, and an indication of clear timeframes for following stages, generates confidence that the promised Beaches Link will be successfully constructed.

“This government has a record of actually delivering infrastructure projects like the Northern Beaches Hospital, NorthConnex and the northern beaches B-Line bus service. In comparison, Labor’s record in the northern region is one of broken promises, with past Independents proving equally ineffectual.

“This tunnel announcement demonstrates the NSW Liberal Government’s continued commitment to a record public infrastructure spend across the state, including Sydney’s north,” Mr O’Dea concluded.