CONSTRUCTION of Sydney Metro’s Western Sydney Airport project is set to start later this year after the state government granted planning approval. The 23km driverless metro will serve western Sydney and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
Planning approval was granted following community consultation, which resulted in changes to the initial plan, including measures to reduce parking impacts on local communities and the relocation of a temporary bus interchange.
The new line is expected to carry up to 7740 passengers an hour in each direction, while also taking about 110,000 vehicles off local roads every day.
The plan calls for six new stations to be built, including two at Western Sydney International airport, one at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis development and one at St Marys from where passengers will be able to connect to the existing Sydney Trains suburban T1 Western Line.
It will take five minutes to travel from the airport to the Aerotropolis development, about 15 minutes from the airport to St Marys and 20 minutes from the Aerotropolis to St Marys.
Early works started on the project in December 2020. Major work will start in the coming months, with the tunnelling contract expected to be awarded by the end of the year and tunnel boring machines in the ground by the end of 2023.
CPB Contractors and Acciona Construction Australia have been shortlisted to build 10km of viaducts, bridges and embankments for track and associated infrastructure for the project while the three consortia shortlisted for the contracts to build the twin 10km tunnel and station boxes are:
- Acciona Construction Australia
- John Holland Gamuda joint venture, and
- CPB Contractors and Ghella.
Federal government approvals for the development work within the boundary of Western Sydney International Airport are expected to be granted in the coming months.
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