The Diplomat
Spanish infrastructure company Acciona has been awarded a A$ 4.24 billion (€ 2.764 billion) contract for the design and construction of the second phase of the Sydney Harbour Western Tunnel, which will begin construction in late 2023 and will run for nearly five years.
This design, as reported by the company on December 1, is the result of “collaboration between industry and the New South Wales Government to achieve an innovative solution.” Acciona’s proposal is to use tunnel boring under the harbor floor with a tunnel boring machine, thus avoiding the need for dredging, a solution that “offers a reduced impact on the environment and minimizes disruption to recreational and commercial harbor users, while protecting marine biodiversity.”
“I am very proud of the Acciona team for being bold and presenting a creative solution focused on the community and environmental impact that a project of this scale has,” said Bede Noonan, CEO of Acciona’s Infrastructure business in Australia and New Zealand.
“We know our population is growing and so we are ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace, supporting a strong economy and a better future for everyone in New South Wales, not just those who use this tunnel,” said New South Wales Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward.
The Western Harbour Tunnel will join other Acciona projects in Australia, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Anzac Bridge and the WestConnex M4-M5 link tunnels, and other flagship infrastructure in the company’s international portfolio, which includes the Follo Line project in Norway and the Cebu Bridge in the Philippines.
