The operators of the Lane Cove Tunnel, Connector Motorways, have announced today that the controversial road will open on Sunday, March 25; co-incidentally, the very day after the NSW State Election takes place.
The tunnel is not due to open until May 2007, but the project has of late been running quite amply ahead of schedule, despite even the occasional unintended building collapse. Major construction finished late last year, and this year the infrastructure has reportedly been the subject of extensive testing by Theiss John Holland.
I do wonder by what means it was determined that the day after the election would be the day upon which the tunnel will finally be opened. One would think that the Iemma Government must be relieved that the tunnel will not be exposed to the rigours of real-world, toll-paying commuters until after judgement day rolls by.
Some local residents, as you would expect, already have quite a strong opinion on the matter.
I think the tunnel operators would probably want it to be opened after the election as well. Let’s face it, even if the tunnel launches smoothly, is great value for money, etc etc, Debnam is going to scream blue murder about how terrible it is, and the operators could probably do without the negative publicity.
My speculation (not backed up by any evidence, but what the hell!) is that this wasn’t forced on the operators by the government. Even if it was a government idea, I don’t think the operators would object to having their launch dirtied by an election campaign.
Make that “not having their launch dirtied by an election campaign”. Ahem.
Amazing coincidence that! Although I suppose really for it to be an election issue it would have to have opened at least a few weeks before …give people time to get pissed off about it.