Engineering, Passenger Rail

2km of George Street now shut for light rail

The final sections of Sydney’s George Street have been shut to road traffic as part of the CBD and South East Light Rail project, just under a year after construction began.

Three sections of George Street below Liverpool Street and Rawson Place closed from last Friday night, October 14.

Once one of the city’s busiest streets for road vehicles, George Street is now closed to traffic between Circular Quay and Rawson Place, a stretch of roughly two kilometres.

CBD Coordinator General Marg Prendergast said motorists had so far responded well to the change, but said the closure of the final sections of George Street needed for the project meant additional changes for some.

“Tonight’s closures will mean all of George Street from Circular Quay to Central is under construction and motorists driving across the CBD will need to use alternative routes on the outside edges of the CBD,” she said.

“Working in one of the oldest streets in Sydney in the heart of the city has had its challenges and as we continue to adapt to the conditions and close more parts of the CBD it’s important that motorists, commuters, cyclists and pedestrians are all aware of the ongoing construction impacts.”

Major construction of the light rail project began on October 23, 2015.

Transport for NSW expects work to be completed, and services operating, in 2019.