VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Sydney CBD Road Tunnels (1990)

Source: Anon. 1990. "Tunnel solution to city traffic jams". The Daily Mirror, October 5: 17. 

This is the second entry in our first Visions of Sydney series. In 1990, Deputy Lord Mayor Ross Bonthorne, proposed a network of underground road tunnels running through the Sydney CBD to address traffic congestion at street level.

The network proposed four tunnels. Motorists could use the tunnels to access carparks or delivery zones.

One tunnel would run under Park Street. This became reality through the Cross City Tunnel, completed in 2005. However the Cross City Tunnel was a designated motorway to provide a bypass underneath the Sydney CBD to connect the eastern and western suburbs of the city.

The second tunnel would run underneath Goulburn Street to serve the southern CBD.

The third road tunnel was to run east-west near Martin Place and would connect with the Cahill Expressway. Three possible routes were proposed.

The fourth tunnel running underneath Pitt Street would connect the three east-west tunnels. 

Next week, we will continue with the next entry in the series. 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Hyde Park United (1989)

I am introducing a new series of posts that will be themed Visions of Sydney which I will post from time to time.

The Never Built series has focused on major building developments that were either proposed to be built or were approved by planning authorities but still was not built.

Visions of Sydney posts will focus on what our planners had in mind for our city, whether it involved widespread redevelopment within the Sydney CBD and surrounds or new developments in our suburbs. 

This will include transport or civic projects that were planned for Sydney, but either remained a drawing on a sketchboard or a line on a map.

And this will include with individual architects or planners had in mind as their "answer" to improving our city e.g. My 2020 posting on Harry Seidler's 1957 proposed residential scheme for McMahons Point would satisfy this as Seidler had a vision for the future of McMahons Point.

The first entry in this series of entries was a proposal to rejoin Hyde Park which has been split in two by Park Street in 1989.

The rejoining of the park was to be made possible through the construction of the Cross City Tunnel (not completed until 2005) along with a supplementary tunnel for local CBD traffic.

It was envisioned that Hyde Park would according to Lord Mayor Jeremy Bingham would be "one of the most beautiful urban parklands in the world" but would also provide "a sweeping vista of lawns and gardens".

This was a lost opportunity for Sydney when the Cross City Tunnel eventuated to keep traffic out of central Sydney.

Finally it does mention of the proposed Civic Square for the site of Woolworths and adjoining buildings opposite the Sydney Town Hall which is still on the council's "to-do" list. 

Source: Turner, 1989. "Sweeping Park Vista in Skyline. The Daily Mirror, December 1: 27.

2001: Sydney's Motorway Revolution

A map of freeway projects (approved, under construction or proposed) in Sydney in 2001. Full citation below.

In early 2001, Federal Transport Minister (and Deputy Prime Minister) John Anderson announced that the Federal Government would provide $350 million to cover the $1.25 billion cost of the construction of the Western Sydney Orbital.

Across Sydney, it was estimated that over six years (2001-2007) $3 billion would be spent on the construction of new freeways which promised travel savings, increased productivity, lower running costs for trucks and jobs.

Source: Wainwright, R. 2001. "Sydney's motorway revolution". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 5:1. 

The Western Sydney Orbital (Westlink M7) was completed in 2005 ahead of schedule, however the Lane Cove Tunnel was opened in 2007 and the Cross City Tunnel in 2005. The M5 East was opened in December 2001.

In 2013, plans were unveiled for the  F3 extension to the M2 Motorway (NorthConnex). Approval was given in 2015 by the NSW Government. Opening is slated for mid year.

While NorthConnex will run under Pennant Hills Road, a proposed route in 2001 saw the road running from Macquarie Park to Wahroonga.

Source: Wainwright, R. 2001. "Pressure on to complete the city's traffic puzzle". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 5:4. 

Below is additional coverage from the January 5, 2001 edition of The Sydney Morning Herald. 

1999: Frank Sartor & the Cross City Tunnel

In 1999, planning was underway for the Cross City Tunnel. Sydney City Council was led by Lord Mayor Frank Sartor.

At the time, the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) had proposed a 1.6-kilometre tunnel to run under the city from the intersection of Druitt and Kent Streets through to the Eastern Distributor with portals linking through to William Street. Motorists would pay a $2 toll.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1999. "Digging deeper: Sartor pushes $140m city tunnel extension". The Daily Telegraph, April 13: 15.

Frank Sartor commissioned a study to determine whether it should be extended further. Leading architects, Donald Crone, Harry Seidler and Phillip Cox proposed extending it through the eastern end of the Kings Cross Tunnel at Rushcutters Bay. This would also allow the council to fulfil their decades-long vision of turning William Street into a pedestrian boulevard.

In September that year, the tunnel was extended to Kings Cross end of the Kings Cross Tunnel with a $2.50 toll. Three years later, the final route extended it further east to the Rushcutters Bay end of the Kings Cross Tunnel.

As for the boulevard, the opening of the tunnel in 2005 led to an attempt to reduce the number of lanes on William Street. This failed when traffic stayed away from the tunnel due to the initial $3.56 toll. William Street still carries large traffic volumes. As for the council, that vision for William Street, remains a vision.