Avoiding 22 sets of traffic lights along Parramatta Road with the 5.5km trip through the tunnels from Homebush to Haberfield, will cost trucks and buses $12.81 with a tag and $13.36 without one.
Opened officially on Friday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Minister for Roads Andrew Constance cut the ribbon on the $3.8 billion project with the first drivers escorted through the tunnels in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“This is a major step towards giving back more time to people, so they spend less time in traffic and more time with family and friends, as well as doing the things they love,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The first of four major WestConnex tunnels to open, Mr McCormack described them as “a game changer” for Western Sydney and said they doubled the capacity of the corridor between Homebush and Haberfield.
Drivers won’t have a toll free period to try the new route, although Mr Constance said there would always be a toll free option for drivers who chose to use Parramatta Road.
“Within two years it is expected there will be about 67,000 trips a day through the tunnels, taking traffic off local streets,” Mr Constance said.
MP calls for urgent action to fix dangerous intersection
LONG-RUNNING traffic chaos at the intersection of Hill Road and Bennelong Parkway at Wentworth Point, need to be resolved immediately, says State MP for Auburn, Lynda Voltz.
Calling on the Parramatta Light Rail project managers to confirm their intentions for the area, she said once the project’s impact was confirmed, Parramatta Council could immediately begin work toward resolving the intersection’s woes.
“The buck passing with this intersection needs to stop. This dangerous and congested intersection requires action,” she said.
“I’ve written to Minister Constance asking for the requirements of the Parramatta Light Rail to be clarified immediately.
“Parramatta Light Rail staff undertook to confirm their impact on the intersection by mid-2019 and that time has now arrived.
“If the initial assessment to Parramatta Council that this intersection won’t be impacted is correct, then there is nothing to stop the council introducing traffic lights straight away.”
