On 16.03.2014 the Australian and NSW Government announced the preferred scheme for the M1-M2, now called NorthConnex, a tolled motorway linking the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga to the Hills M2 Motorway at West Pennant Hills.

Three tenders for the design and construction of NorthConnex have been assessed in terms of innovation, cost effectiveness and environmentally-responsible design. Lend Lease Bouygues JV was announced as the preferred tenderer.

After the announcement, the project moves into the planning approval stage with the public display of the Environment Impact Assessment. If approved, work on NorthConnex could begin in 2015, with the project open for use in 2019.

The preferred scheme includes a northern interchange connecting with the M1 Pacific Motorway, the Pacific Highway and Pennant Hills Road; a southern interchange connecting with the Hills M2 Motorway and Pennant Hills Road; twin motorway tunnels around 9 km in length with two lanes and a breakdown lane in each direction, an increased height clearance of 5.3 m, and a speed limit of 80 km/h. The tunnel will be built with a three-lane capacity for future growth. Click here and here. Visit http://www.northconnex.com.au. 14/14.