SYDNEY, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Tunnelling work began on a key transport link in Australia's largest city on Monday despite strong opposition from community groups.
Australia's New South Wales state is undertaking an ambitious transport infrastructure renewal project, headlined by a 33 kilometre arc dubbed WestConnex linking the west and south western reaches of Sydney to the city's CBD, airport and critical port infrastructure.
Work on the critical link, paid for in part by a crucial infrastructure recycling program that is seeing state-owned electricity assets sold off to offshore consortiums, began in earnest on Monday as work crews began tunnelling the first stage of the project.
"This is a milestone event for the congestion-busting WestConnex motorway, which will deliver more than 20 billion Australian dollars (15.20 billion U.S. dollars) in benefits to NSW," NSW Premier Mike Baird said in a statement.
The project however has received widespread criticism from residents living within the vicinity of the proposed motorway, some of which have had their historic homes demolished amid poor monetary compensation.
Others are also claiming the link will only create further congestion issues closer towards Sydney's CBD, despite authorities assuring residents it will take 30 trucks off the current and well-used arterial link, and cut commute times from the city's west by 40 minutes.
Costs of the project have also blown out to 16.8 billion Australian dollars (12.77 billion U.S. dollars) from the original 10 billion Australian dollar (7.60 billion U.S. dollar) pricetag when it was initially announced in 2012.
