Three east options have been investigated for an extension of the M4 motorway to the City West Link and Parramatta Road. The first option, or short tunnel option, is for 3.6 km of twin tunnels connecting to both the City West Link and Parramatta Road at Haberfield. The second option (or long tunnel option) is for 6.6 km of twin tunnels connecting to the City West Link at Lilyfield and to Parramatta Road at Haberfield. The third option (or slot option) is a surface scheme, involving a lowered motorway in a 'slot' generally beside Parramatta Road and extending to Haberfield. All three options involve widening the M4 from four to six lanes between Concord Road and Homebush Bay Drive until the tunnel starts at North Strathfield. The New South Wales government's preferred option is the short tunnel model. The public exhibition process is open until 1st March. The short tunnel option would cost about A$1.4 billion, compared with A$2 billion for a 6.6 km tunnel surfacing near Anzac Bridge. The short tunnel would require two ventilation stacks and the long tunnel four, all within 500 m of entry and exit points. The tunnel will be privately funded, built and operated for about 30 years. Call for expressions of interest expected in mid-2004. Construction is expected to begin within two years and take three years. Read E-News Weekly 32/2003 & 29/2002. Visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au 03/04.