Sydney Light Rail construction schedule released

Sydney Light Rail construction schedule releasedA detailed construction schedule for the CBD and South East Light Rail project has been released, with 31 construction zones across the 12-kilometre route. No one zone will be affected for the entire period.Light Rail will run from Circular Quay to both Randwick and Kingsford, with services arriving every four minutes in the CBD during peak hour and every eight minutes on each branch line.Sydney Light Rail vehicles will carry 4 passengers, the equivalent of nine standard buses and more than 220 buses will be removed from the CBD when Sydney Light Rail is operational.The key major construction dates include: September 2015 – construction access for Moore Park West CorridorOctober 2015 – CBD works startJanuary 2016 – start of Randwick branchFebruary 2016 – start of Kingsford branchAugust 20016 – start of work in Surry HillsSeptember 2016 – release of the first pedestrianized zone in George StMay 17 – completion of final pedestrian zone block in George StSeptember 2017 – start of the final work zone along the route (Elizabeth St to Chalmers St)September 2017 – arrival of Light Rail Vehicles April 2018 – completion of major civil construction; ongoing works continue to finalise the installation of electronic systems and construction of platformsJune 2018 – testing commences To see the full construction program click here. The project is due to be delivered ahead of original forecasts and will be up and running early 2019. With the diversion of traffic from George Street and the extra demand on alternative routes, the construction of Castlereagh Street north cycleway will not be carried out until after light rail construction is completed.To make sure traffic keeps moving, the NSW Government will establish a body headed by a Coordinator General Marg Prendergast. It will have powers to manage traffic and transport arrangements in the CBD and be based on the success of the 2000 Olympic Delivery Authority