Tunnel boring for New M5 starts at Arncliffe and Bexley

Minister for WestConnex Stuart Ayres said two roadheaders were working to build the nine kilometre twin tunnels from St Peters to Beverly Hills. 

The tunnels will run roughly parallel to the existing M5 East at the Beverly Hills end.

Mr Ayres said they would expand the overall motorway corridor from two to four lanes in each direction, doubling its capacity, and halving travel time from Beverly Hills to St Peters.

Mr Ayres said tunnelling would take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at three sites.

Additional roadheaders would begin work at Kingsgrove later this year.

“Since November last year, when tunnelling first started at the site of the St Peters Interchange, the roadheaders have progressed by almost 150 metres,” he said. 

“Each roadheader weighs about 135 tonnes and is of capable removing close to 7.5 million tonnes of spoil – equivalent to enough rock to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool each week.”

Mt Ayres said the New M5 tunnels would be taller, wider and less steep than the existing M5 East to ensure a smoother ride for motorists and significantly reduced emissions.

“At the deepest point, the top of the tunnels will be about 70 metres below ground, with the average tunnel depth being 40 metres,” he said.

“Above ground, work is taking shape with hundreds of staff and large machinery working on sites along the corridor, including at the St Peters Interchange and local road upgrades.

“When the project opens to traffic in early 2020, the New M5 will provide relief for motorists currently stuck on one of Sydney’s most congested roads.

“Average travel times will be nearly halved and average travel speeds doubled during peak times.”

Mr Ayres said tunnel stubs were being built to allow for future connections to the M4-M5 Link and F6 Extension.

“WestConnex will change the lives of tens of thousands of motorists,” he said.