The Cross City Tunnel proposal comprises twin, two-lane road tunnels for traffic travelling east-west across the city. It would be constructed between Darling Harbour and Kings Cross and would link the Western and Eastern Distributors.
The Eastbound tunnel would be entered either at Harbour Street (Northbound) or from the Western Distributor, and then travel underneath Bathurst Street, veering left beneath Hyde Park to run underneath William Street, with an exit link to the Easter Distributor (Southbound) and a tunnel exit at Bayswater Road.
The Westbound tunnel would be entered from either from Bayswater Road or the Eastern Distributor (Northbound) and run directly underneath William Street, Park Street and Druitt Street. The tunnel would have four possible exits: an early exit leading to Sir John Young Crescent, and at the end of the tunnel the Western Distributor, Harbour Street (Southbound) and Bathurst Street (Eastbound).
The tunnels would be ventilated through a 39m single emission stack located behind the IMAX Theatre at Darling Harbour, between the Market and Druitt Street viaducts.
The proposal is aimed at reducing the volume of traffic which passes through the city streets, in particular William Street. The proposal is also aimed at reducing the time taken to travel across the city by up to 20 minutes, by bypassing up to 18 sets of traffic lights. As part of the proposal, the RTA plans to improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers, with a view to generally improve the environment of city streets. This includes:
- footpath widening, and landscaping and improvement schemes on William, Park and Harbour Streets
- providing and upgrading bus and transit lanes on William, Park, Druitt and Elizabeth Streets
- providing bicycle lanes between Kings Cross and the city
- improve the appearance of the western entry and exit to the Kings Cross Tunnel and create a useful area of public open space over the tunnel
- remove large numbers of cars from the Woolloomooloo area by including a tunnel at Sir John Young Crescent
The proposal is estimated to cost $400 million and would be funded by tolls. There would be a $2.50 toll in each direction and a $1.10 toll for traffic using the northern exit on Sir John Young Crescent.
At present, the RTA has released an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposal, and is seeking approval from the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning. If the proposal is approved, construction could start in 2001, for the tunnel to open in 2004.
For more information about the Cross City Tunnel click here to view the official RTA brochure (pdf file 1.8MB), or visit the RTA website (www.rta.nsw.gov.au).