New, before-and-after aerial photographs have been revealed by Nearmap, documenting the progress of Sydney’s transport projects.
The aerial imagery company’s photographs illustrate the changes being made to the face of the NSW capital as $33 billion worth of new rail lines, light rail tracks and motorways come into being.
Among these images are the Sydney Metro North West project, specifically the Cudgegong Road terminus in Rouse Hill and the Castle Hill station, each of which has been designed by Hassell. Both locations have seen the clearing of land for construction.
For instance, the area around Cudgegong Road – predominantly fields just a few years ago – has been replaced by a large construction site. The Sydney Metro North West project covers 23 kilometres of new track and rail systems, eight railway stations, 4,000 commuter car parking spaces and the conversion of 13 kilometres of railway to metro status. The project is due to open in the first half of 2019.
Before and after of the area around Cudgegong in Rouse Hill
The photographs also look at the Sydney Light Rail project, providing views of Devonshire Street and Olivia Gardens in Surry Hill, and over Randwick Racecourse. Residential areas – such as an entire apartment block at Olivia Gardens – have been demolished to make way for the track.
An entire apartment block at Olivia Gradens has been demolished to make way for the Sydney Light Rail project
Two further images reveal the transformation of Sydney’s WestConnex project on the site of Kogarah Golf Club in Arncliffe. The golf club has had a large portion taken out of it to build a new M5 freeway tunnel. The project, overall, will see the M4 and M5 motorways widened and extended with a new road.
The transformation of Sydney's WestConnex has seen a large portion taken out of Kogarah Golf Club
Aside from the changes captured in Nearmap’s photographs, Sydney’s infrastructure transformation includes many projects that will play out beneath the surface. For instance, stage two of the Sydney Metro project will extend beneath Sydney Harbour and through the CBD as far as Sydenham. There, it will be connected with the existing Bankstown line that runs between Sydenham and Bankstown. A seven-member consortium, which includes UK firm Foster and Partners and Australian practice Architectus, has won the tender to design six new Sydney Metro City stations.
Images: Nearmap
