Reclaiming the streets

Sydney, Australia, is building two new toll roads beneath the city in a bid to combat congestion. The #412M Cross City Tunnel scheme will benefit motorists, who will be able to cross the city in just two minutes, and give the streets back to the people. Two 2.1km long tunnels are being drilled east-west between Darling Harbour and Rushcutters Bay. CCM is responsible for the design and construction of the scheme and for maintenance for 30 years. A joint venture between Baulderstone Hornibrook and Bilfinger Berger completed the tunnels using road headers with cut and cover techniques at the tunnel portals. The tunnels will help reduce pollution in the city. The residents of Sydney were initially very sceptical about the project, with concern about settlement, noise and vibration from the tunnelling. An extra ramp to link the tunnels with the Eastern Distributor dual carriageway was built to enable extraction of spoil without clogging up the city's streets. Most of the tunnel has been routed beneath William Street.