Sydney is now one step closer to its first new road harbour crossing in nearly three decades, as the final one million tonnes of rock were cleared to connect the Western Harbour Tunnel with the Warringah Freeway upgrade.
This marks the first time the two projects have been joined since the 6.5-kilometre freeway work began in mid-2021.
The Western Harbour Tunnel will link the Warringah Freeway to the WestConnex M4 and M8 at Rozelle Interchange, helping reduce congestion on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel, Anzac Bridge, and Western Distributor. The tunnel is expected to save drivers up to 20 minutes and cut traffic by 35%.
Premier Chris Minns called the milestone a “significant moment” for the projects, which are set to change how people travel across the city. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison praised the work, comparing it to “open heart surgery while running a marathon,” as it is being built around live traffic.
Construction of two three-lane tunnels beneath Sydney Harbour will continue as the Warringah Freeway upgrade progresses. The freeway work is over 70% complete and set to finish by late 2026, while the Western Harbour Tunnel is expected to open in 2028, becoming the city’s third harbour road crossing.
