"The aim will be to work through the planning process over the next 12 to 18 months,"Mr Constance said."Once you have completed the project planning,and obviously the procurement,you are looking at a five-to-seven-year build. In essence,it is three projects – the Warringah Freeway,the Western Harbour Tunnel,the Beaches Link."
Labor roads spokesman John Graham said it meant residents of Sydney's northern beaches would have longer to wait than they had expected for the promised road tunnel.
"This is another project without the funding fully tied down,"he said.
About 68 properties − 52 of which are homes – will be acquired for the motorway project. So far,15 properties have been purchased by the state.
Balgowlah Golf Course will be used as a construction site for the project,and eventually returned to the community as public space with new sporting facilities. A portion of Cammeray Golf Course will also be used during construction.
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Leaked documents have shown that motorists will be slugged about $8 (in today's dollars) for a one-way journey by car on the entire length of the new tunnels from Rozelle to Balgowlah.
TheHerald has also revealed that the government has been considering tolls onboth directions on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Harbour Tunnel to help cover the cost of the new road tunnels.
Mr Constance said the tolls would be finalised as"we work towards that final cost"of the project.
"There will be a toll[on the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link] because we have got to actually finance the infrastructure in order to build it,"he said.