Plans are being drawn up in Australia for a major tunnel project – image courtesy of © Miceking, Dreamstime.com
Plans for a huge tunnel project are being evaluated in Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) State. Should the project go ahead in the format considered at present, it would measure 11km in length, forming a key part of the Great Western Highway upgrade project.
The tunnel would link Katoomba and Lithgow. Construction work for the Great Western Highway is expected to commence in 2022, with driving of the tunnel due to start in 2023. The scale of the project means that Federal funding will be required, in addition to the financing being sources by the NSW Government.
The Great Western Highway upgrade project, including the tunnel construction, is expected to come with a pricetag of US$6.13 billion (A$8 billion). The NSW State Government intends to deliver $1.916 billion (A$2.5 billion) of the funding required.
