The Cross City Tunnel links Darling Harbour to Rushcutters Bay through separate east and westbound tunnels, avoiding 16 sets of traffic lights westbound and 18 eastbound. From the west, you can access the Eastern Distributor directly to the airport. Coming from the east, you can avoid city traffic and access the harbour crossings.

The Cross City Tunnel improves air quality by taking cars and their emissions off surface streets. Better air quality in Central Sydney was one of the key objectives of the Cross City Tunnel. Studies show air quality is significantly improved, with up to 40,000 vehicles a day travelling in the tunnel instead of using existing streets.

How is air quality managed in the Cross City Tunnel?

Air quality is managed with a 65 metre high ventilation building located west of Harbour Street, between the existing Harris Street and Market Street viaducts above the eastern side of Darling Harbour.

The tunnel has been designed to provide better air quality during an incident such as a traffic accident or vehicle breakdown and features a unique "third" tunnel (ventilation tunnel) located beneath the two tunnel tubes.

In normal operating conditions, air travels east in the eastbound tunnel before being directed into the westbound tunnel to travel to the ventilation building. A ventilation tunnel has been constructed beneath the road tunnels for use during congested conditions and other incidents. At these times, air from the eastbound tunnel will be transferred into the ventilation tunnel and expelled via the ventilation building.
Other features of the ventilation system include:

• Jet fans along the ceiling of the tunnels and access ramps to control air flow.
• A main underground ventilation building at the western end near Druitt Street.
• A ventilation cross-over passage and ventilation station at the eastern end of the main tunnels.
• A bypass fan station at the western end that generates airflow in the bypass ventilation tunnel.

Air quality monitoring

Comprehensive air quality in-tunnel monitoring is undertaken at various locations. The tunnel is operated to ensure air quality levels stay within the strict goals set by the Minister for Planning. Real-time air quality information from in-tunnel monitors, as well as relevant meteorological data such as wind factors, are available on the tunnel operator's website, click here to view.

An independent expert monitors compliance and ensures that the in-tunnel monitoring stations are maintained. These results are made available to the NSW Department Planning, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and the Department of Health.

The community and local air quality

In addition to in-tunnel air monitoring, four separate air quality monitoring stations were established to monitor and record local (outside) air quality readings for the period August 2005 to August 2008. This was in accordance with the requirements of the Minister's Conditions of Approval for the project.

One of these monitoring stations was a 'community' station located in Tumbalong Park, which was independently operated by an air quality community consultative committee.

Historical reports and the meeting minutes of this group are available on the operator's website, click here to view.