The opposition warns the NSW Government's projection of $8 billion for Great Western Highway upgrades may not be 'credible'.
The New South Wales government is accused of jumping the gun by announcing Australia's longest road tunnel through the Blue Mountains without locking in all the funding.The NSW government has locked in an 11km tunnel underneath Mount Victoria as the preferred design option
It committed $2.5 billion for the project, and the Commonwealth has locked in $2 billion, but its share is not to be used for the underground section. The Great Western Highway tunnel will be two portals with dual lanes, underneath two traffic choke points.Shadow roads minister John Graham said it came at a time when cuts to other projects were taking place, ahead of the 2023-24 budget.
Mr Graham expected the project to blow out beyond the $8 billion budgeted due to the difficult nature of long tunnelling work through sensitive heritage and wilderness areas."I can guarantee this will be a very expensive project," he said. Hartley resident Ramsay Moody warns cold air gets locked into the valley which could be dangerous if polluted.