NorthConnex
The Roads and Maritime Service is building a motorway that will link the M1 and M2 motorways, taking much of the traffic off Pennant Hills Road.
What is NorthConnex?
The project will involve the construction of twin road tunnels between the M1 Pacific Motorway (Formerly the F3) at Wahroonga and the Hills M2 Motorway at West Pennant Hills. Users will pay a toll and most heavy vehicles will be required to use the tunnel.
For further information and updates on the NorthConnex project please visit http://northconnex.com.au/project-construction/hornsby-quarry
Updates from NorthConnex
20 October 2017
10 February 2017
17 August 2016
30 June 2016
3 June 2016
1 June 2016
9 September 2015
- Northern Interchange Compound update August - 782kb
- Out of hours work M1 Pacific Motorway - 495kb
- High Voltage installation Trelawney - 723kb
- Pennant Hills Road Trelawney and Loch Maree vegetation clearing and building removal - 461kb
- Russell Avenue Service investigation - 540kb
8 September 2015
- Community Update - Pennant Hills Road and Marden Road, Carlingford - 318kb
- Night Road Works - Pennant Hills Road, West Pennant Hills - 52kb
14 August 2015
29 July 2015
- Night Road works - Pacific Highway, Mt Colah - 52kb
- Night Road Works - New Line Road, Cherrybrook - 52kb
21 July 2015
17 June 201510 June 2015
2 June 2015
26 May 2015
- Night Survey Pennant Hills Road Wahroonga and Normanhurst - 630kb
- Borehole Nightworks MS On and Off Ramps - 356kb
18 May 2015
1 May 2015What are the benefits?
The new motorway will remove a lot of trucks and other traffic from Pennant Hills Road, making it less congested and safer. Local residents will benefit from less noise and pollution, as the planning conditions include new and extensive safeguards on the operation of the tunnel and air quality. NorthConnex will operate in line with world’s best standards and can be reassessed by the Department of Planning and Environment every five years.
What has been Hornsby Shire Council's role?
Council has long campaigned for this project to take place and is delighted construction will soon commence.
In addition to campaigning Council was actively involved in the planning process, making a submission to the Environmental Impact Statement for the project to ensure the best possible outcome. The submission expressed overall support but raised a number of issues that require further attention. These include:
- That filters be installed on the exhaust stacks or, at the very least, they be designed in a way that will allow filters to be installed in the future if they are considered necessary;
- Improvements to surface water treatment to maintain water quality;
- That further consideration be given to Hornsby Quarry as a site for excess soil to be placed, subject to potential environmental impacts;
- More analysis of local traffic impacts during construction and that controls be put in place to regulate construction-related traffic.
Council also commented on operational traffic management, heritage, property identification and acquisition, and biodiversity impacts and management.
Related Council Projects
As part of NorthConnex, the Hornsby Quarry Road Construction Spoil Management Project will provide Hornsby Quarry with excavated tunnel spoil to assist in filling the void. Once complete, Hornsby Shire Council plans to rehabilitate the site to provide a public recreational area benefiting the local community.
The Hornsby Mountain Bike Trail will be closed until late 2016 while it is being re-aligned to accommodate for the Hornsby Quarry Road Construction Spoil Management Project. We apologise for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause.
What happens next?
Early work will start in February 2015, with full construction activities scheduled to begin in May 2015 once environmental management plans have been developed. The project is due to be completed in 2019.
Further information
Visit the website www.northconnex.com.au
Project information line: 1800 997 057
Email: enquiries@northconnex.com.au