Construction Delays Plague Sydney’s M6 Motorway Project: Completion Moves Further From Reach

The construction of the highly anticipated M6 motorway in Sydney is facing significant delays, with completion “many years away,” according to the New South Wales (NSW) state government. Initially set to be finished by 2025, the $3.1 billion project is now projected to extend beyond that timeframe, causing frustration for commuters and stakeholders.

The M6 motorway, designed to link the M8 at Arncliffe with President Avenue in Kogarah through four-kilometre twin tunnels, encountered its first significant setback in March 2024 when a sinkhole appeared near Kogarah. This incident halted tunneling operations and placed a nearby building at risk of collapse, prompting safety precautions.

Roads Minister John Graham, alongside Transport Deputy Secretary Camilla Drover, confirmed on Thursday the impossibility of meeting the original 2025 deadline, with completion potentially delayed by over three years. “It could be many years before the project completes,” stated Ms. Drover, emphasizing the challenges posed by a problematic 244-meter stretch at the southern end of the tunnel which features unstable landfill ground.

Additional complications include the necessity to stabilize the ground with grout injections and potentially relocate water, gas, and electricity lines. Minister Graham expressed confidence in the overall progress, noting, “Ninety per cent of this tunneling will be able to be completed, but this tough 244 meters will require painstaking work.”

The unforeseen delays have raised concerns about a cost blowout, although Minister Graham assured that taxpayers will not bear these expenses, pending commercial negotiations with contractors CPB and insurers. The NSW government is engaging in discussions to determine financial responsibility for the additional work.

Furthermore, the M6’s future phases are also uncertain, with the proposed extensions to Taren Point and the Princes Highway at Loftus unfunded at this time. Minister Graham indicated that the government’s primary focus remains on completing the current stage before considering future expansions.

An analysis of the time and cost implications of the “subsidence incidents” is underway, as reported by Transport for NSW. SafeWork‘s approval will be required before any tunneling can resume, with a senior transport official recently indicating that operations may not restart until the second half of 2025.

The cost of the project experienced a $500 million increase in 2022, bringing the total expenditure to $3.1 billion. Despite the delays, work on tunnel lining and electrical fit-outs on sections other than the affected Rockdale portion continues.

Coalition roads spokesperson Natalie Ward criticized the state government for the lack of transparency regarding the project’s status and financial ramifications. Transport for NSW has acknowledged that the redesign might affect costs but has not disclosed specifics concerning the project’s timeline or budget.