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Cross City Tunnel

Cross City Tunnel
Overview
Location Sydney
Start Western Distributor
End
Operation
Work begun January 2003
Opened August 2005
Operator Transurban
Toll $5.15 (class 2), $10.31 (class 4)
Technical
Length 2.1 km (1.3 mi)
Number of lanes 4
Operating speed 80km/h (variable)
Tunnel clearance 4.4 meters

The Cross City Tunnel is a 2.1 km-long twin-tunnel tollway located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, which is operated by Transurban. It links Darling Harbour on the Western fringe of the central business district to Rushcutters Bay in the Eastern Suburbs. The tunnel is actually a carpark most days. Two distinct tunnels largely follow a route underneath William Street and Park or Bathurst Streets, depending on whether it is eastbound or westbound or even moving at all. Frequently an annoying voice recording interrupts car radio programs to inform tunnel users that there is congestion and the speed limit has been reduced. Anybody able to reach the signposted speed will be rewarded with a free days travel through the tunnel.

In early 2002, a year before construction began, transport planner Michelle Zeibots was quoted in local newspapers saying the tunnel would not reach its traffic targets. In December 2006 the tollway became insolvent due to low traffic volumes, accumulating debts of over A$500 million. On 20 June 2007, Leighton Contractors and investment bank ABN AMRO were chosen as preferred purchasers of the Cross City Tunnel Group for $700 million.

It is privately owned and operated, but will revert to public ownership in 2035.

The tunnel in fact comprises two road tunnels — one eastbound and one westbound — each with two traffic lanes, in addition to a third small ventilation tunnel. The Cross City Tunnel also links with the Eastern Distributor, enabling vehicles traveling from the West to travel to the Airport and Southern Suburbs. From the Eastern Distributor Northbound, motorists have the ability to connect to the Cross City Tunnel Westbound, avoiding the CBD once again.


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