Sydney’s light rail construction project now extends from Circular Quay to Chinatown, after crews opened two major construction zones on George Street between Liverpool and Park streets last week.
“George Street is now closed from Circular Quay to Liverpool Street,” CBD coordinator general Marg Prendergast said.
“Work in this area will complete the future pedestrian zone, which when the light rail is operational in 2019, will offer a 1.2km pedestrian boulevard along George Street between Hunter and Bathurst streets.”
This latest work also means the closure of the substantial diagonal crossing in front of Town Hall, at the intersection of Druitt street and George street in the heart of the city.
“This crossing has been operational since the 80s and to see this go as well as cars from George Street outside of Town Hall, means we can start to see this transformational project unfold and picture the CBD in 2019,” Prendergast added.
“It’s really exciting.”
Prendergrast said work on existing construction zones had uncovered “a complex network of dormant utility services,” adding that crews had “faced some drainage challenges”.
“We expect to uncover even more surprises as construction expands towards Chinatown,” she said.
The 12-kilometre CBD and South East Light Rail project will link Circular Quay with Randwick and Kingsford via George Street and Central, with services to begin operating from 2019.