New WestConnex tunnel set to open in Inner West

By ERIN MODARO

A new section of the WestConnex motorway is set to open in the Inner West this Friday, connecting the M4 to the M8. The new link will give drivers a speedy connection from Sydney Airport to the Western Suburbs, bypassing 52 sets of traffic stops along the way.

The tunnel was launched to the public through a community open day in December, where residents could view the extension before its official opening. The $3.2 billion tunnels, which include 22km of underground roads, was described by Transurban’s WestConnex Project Director Terry Chapman as a “city-shaping project”.

Tolls are set at $5.65 for cars and $16.95 for heavy vehicles for use of the M4/M8 link, with a cap of $11.11 across all WestConnex roads.

WestConnex Class action still underway

The community walk-through comes after years of local pushback against almost every aspect of the project. Community opposition culminated in a class-action lawsuit launched by Dentons law firm last year, investigating property damage caused by WestConnex construction.

A Dentons partner said Transurban’s response to resident concerns over property damage from things such as drilling was “incredibly frustrating for residents”, leading to community members seeking compensation. A notice of motion relating to the class-action is set to be heard at the NSW Supreme Court on February 17. 

Along with controversy over property damage, WestConnex has seen community opposition to smoke stacks, contamination, and traffic congestion.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government is “completely transforming the way Sydneysiders live” with the new cross-city connections. The opening of the connection between the M4 and the M8 comes two and a half years after the M8 was finished.

The new tunnel’s opening officially makes WestConnex the longest underground continuous highway in Australia. Drivers will be able to access the M4/M8 WestConnex link at 3am on Friday January 20.