Local Latest: Major Milestone for Warringah Freeway Upgrade. What’s Planned?

A $1.18 billion design and construction contract has been awarded in a joint venture for the Warringah Freeway upgrade.

The announcement was made on Saturday, after plans were released last week showing 575 trees scheduled for removal, as part of the multi-billion-dollar project.

NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the upgrade will reduce congestion and simplify the complex road corridor, which is used by up to 250,000 vehicles each day.

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the new bridge.

“This crucial upgrade will make the Warringah Freeway more efficient and reliable for the drivers who use it every day and will pave the way for the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link,” Mr Constance said.

“More than 15,000 jobs will be created during construction of the entire Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link program, with about 600 direct jobs created for the Warringah Freeway upgrade.”

Early works are already underway with the main work to start early next year. Construction is expected to take approximately five years to complete, subject to the detailed design and construction program.

Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson said: “The Warringah Freeway upgrade is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to reduce traffic on our local roads, and it will help create better connections for our community to the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.”

Member for Manly James Griffin said: “Community feedback has helped shape the Warringah Freeway upgrade, and the community will continue to be updated and involved as the entire Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link program progresses.”

The Warringah Freeway and harbour tunnel will eventually be connected to the Beaches Link motorway to Balgowlah and Seaforth, which is likely to be completed two years later than first anticipated, in 2027-28.

The government has yet to reveal the estimated cost of the Western Harbour Tunnel, which will also act as a western bypass of the Sydney CBD by connecting the tolled tunnel to the $16.8 billion WestConnex motorway at Rozelle.

Leaked government documents in 2017 estimated the combined cost of building the harbour tunnel and the Beaches Link at $14 billion.

The Warringah Freeway upgrade includes:

• Upgrade four-kilometres of the Warringah Freeway, between High Street at North Sydney and Willoughby Road at Naremburn, to reduce the amount of merging required, and improve safety and traffic flow.
• Improve interchanges with Falcon Street at Cammeray and High Street at North Sydney, including a new northbound on ramp at High Street which will ease pressure on the existing ramp at Berry Street.
• Connections to the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.
• Improved public transport links, with a continuous southbound bus lane from Miller Street to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Around 2.5 kilometres of new and upgraded cycleways and pedestrian paths, integrated with public transport networks, including the future Victoria Cross metro station at North Sydney.

The community will continue to be updated throughout all phases of this project, with more information available at https://caportal.com.au/rms/wht