Improved air quality

The Lane Cove Tunnel improves local air quality by reducing traffic volumes on Epping Road. These air quality improvements extend several hundred metres either side of Epping Road.

How is air quality managed in the Lane Cove Tunnel?

Air quality in the tunnel is managed with two ventilation buildings: one at the western end, in the Lane Cove West Industrial Park in Sirius Road; and one at the eastern end, in the Artarmon industrial area, between the western end of Marsden Street and the Pacific Highway. The ventilation buildings are connected to exhaust points that are located at various points in the tunnel.

Fresh air is drawn into the tunnel via an intake located at 130-132 Epping Road, Lane Cove.

Air quality monitoring

Monitors in the Lane Cove Tunnel measure pollutant levels along the length of the tunnel. Air quality is also measured in the ventilation buildings.  The tunnel operator, Lane Cove Tunnel - Military Road E-Ramp Pty Ltd (LCT-MRE), carries out routine testing of the air quality in the tunnel.

The air quality standards for the Lane Cove Tunnel project were set down in the Planning Minister's Conditions of Approval. Air quality data is available to the public on the LCT-MRE website - click here.

Between 2005 and 2010, LCT-MRE operated four local (or outside) air quality monitoring stations, including two 'community-based' stations, one at Artarmon Public School and one at the Hallam Avenue tennis courts. Ground level monitoring stations were also located at Lane Cove Country Club Golf Course and Magdala Park North Ryde. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter were measured and reported publicly.

In accordance with the Minister for Planning's conditions of approval for the project, monitoring of local (or outside) air quality ceased on 1 April 2010.

The community and local air quality

A community-based air quality community consultative committee was formed to provide input on air quality monitoring and reporting during the design, construction and operation of the Lane Cove Tunnel. Under the Minister for Planning's Conditions of Approval for the project, this group oversaw the establishment and operation of two community-based monitoring stations. The stations ceased operation on 1 April 2010 In accordance with the Minister for Planning's conditions of approval.