FED: Sydney Harbour Bridge could undergo facelift

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2005
FED: Sydney Harbour Bridge could undergo facelift

SYDNEY, April 30 AAP - A four-lane roadway could be built beneath the world renowned
Sydney Harbour Bridge under a plan to ease the city's traffic and train congestion.

The proposal would also see one car lane removed from the top deck to make way for
a second rail line.

A private consortium, led by construction giant Leightons, detailed the plan in an
unsolicited proposal to the NSW government, the office of Planning Minister Craig Knowles
said today.

The plan, called Project Star, would be reviewed by an inter-agency committee, he said.

"It would be considered by government," a spokesman for Mr Knowles said.

The government's transport sustainability commissioner, Peter Newman, is working on
various options to ease traffic congestion in the city.

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported today that at least one new city railway
station could be built, most likely near Wharf 8 at Darling Harbour, to take passengers
away from the overcrowded Wynyard and Town Hall stations, and new single-deck trains may
be used.

A second rail option involving at least one new city station could run beneath Castlereagh
Street.

An extra harbour tunnel was also being considered, but is at least $2 billion more
expensive than the double-decker Harbour Bridge option, the report said.

Transport Minister Michael Costa and the Roads and Traffic Authority would not comment
on the report.

The NSW opposition did not return calls for comment.

AAP kjd/evt/bwl -

KEYWORD: BRIDGE

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