Controversy has again hit Australia’s WestConnex project in Sydney with media reports that a planned cycle and pedestrian bridge is to be axed.
In its place will be a new raised flyover running through the residential and parkland area, according to a report in The Age newspaper.
The Pedestrian and Cycling Green Link was part of the original planning permission for the US$11.85 billion WestConnex project and was to rise above parts of the surface motorway in Rozelle and Lilyfield neighbourhoods.
The 33km WestConnex motorway, which runs mostly underground, is a joint project of the New South Wales state government and the Australian government. It includes widening and extending the M4 Western Motorway, a new section for the M5 Motorway and a new inner western bypass of Sydney’s central business district to connect the M4 and M5. Work includes 16km of new tunnels as well as widening 7.5km of the existing M4 and which will converted to a private tollway.
To help fund the project, the publicly-owned M5 East Motorway will be converted to a private tollway, while the toll on the existing M5 will be extended for a further 34 years.
