The Eastern Distributor provides a fast, efficient, easy link for travelling from the north, south and east of the city. It provides quick access between the city and the airport.  A strong feature of the design was minimise the impact on the area it passes through and is a good example of how urban design can create a blend between the old and the new.

The six-kilometre motorway cuts city-to-airport travel times by at least ten minutes and bypasses 19 sets of traffic lights.

 The Eastern Distributor tunnels are 1.7 kilometres in length and run from Wooloomooloo to Surry Hills and are located underneath one of Australia's most densely populated areas.

How is air quality managed in the Eastern Distributor Tunnel?

The tunnel tubes are arranged in a 'piggy back' configuration with the northbound tunnel sitting on top of the southbound tunnel.

The tunnel air is expelled through two ventilation buildings, one at Darlinghurst (for northbound traffic) and another at Surry Hills (for southbound traffic).

Air is circulated through the tunnel by a combination of vehicle movements and the use of jet fans.

Air quality monitoring

Monitors in the Eastern Distributor tunnel measure pollutant levels along the length of the tunnel.

The tunnel operator carries out routine testing of the air quality in the tunnel and monitors it 24 hours a day to ensure levels stay within the strict project goals set by the Minister for Planning. To view the tunnel operator's website, click here.