23 March 2026
Two years after the Beaches Link Tunnel was scrapped, the NSW Government’s long-awaited Northern Beaches Network Review has drawn criticism for failing to articulate a substantive alternative for one of Sydney’s most persistently congested corridors.
Military Road, the key arterial linking the Lower North Shore to the Northern Beaches and the Sydney CBD, has long been identified as a priority bottleneck, with the NRMA ranking it as the second worst road in Sydney in 2023. The corridor continues to carry heavy commuter and freight traffic, with flow-on effects for local amenity as motorists divert through residential streets to avoid peak congestion.
Local North Shore state MP Felicity Wilson said the review confirmed a lack of long-term planning following the cancellation of the tunnel project.
“The Minns Labor Government has deprioritised action on Military Road even in the face of the evidence showing this is one of the most congested corridors in NSW,” Wilson said.
“Labor cancelled the Beaches Link Tunnel, then spent two years having a review to get alternative solutions, and now this document proves they have no solutions.”
Wilson said the review process had failed to incorporate meaningful community and business input, despite earlier commitments.
“Two years ago, I backed our community’s calls for the review to ensure community and local business input, but this was ignored, and today we have seen the consequences,” she said.
“Our community will be disappointed by the Minns Labor Government’s attitude towards road congestion and safety.”
The criticism centres on the absence of any major capacity or corridor-wide intervention for Military Road, with the review instead focusing on incremental measures and consultation prompts.
Among the limited options raised are potential congestion improvements at intersections including Ben Boyd Road and Military Road in Neutral Bay, and Miller Street at Cammeray. The review does not propose specific upgrades at these locations, instead seeking community feedback on possible measures.
Wilson described the approach as insufficient given the scale of the problem, pointing to existing bus lanes and clearways along the corridor.
“The government has instead proposed tweaks at two intersections and an elusive ‘bus prioritisation’ plan where bus lanes and clearways already exist,” she said.
“It is time for the Minns Labor Government to stop evading and start explaining why they lack long-term vision, or after two years, lack the answers we need to our local transport network.”
She urged residents and businesses to engage with the consultation process despite the concerns raised.
“I encourage all residents and businesses to approach the consultation with good faith, have their say, whether they want a tunnel or have concerns like congestion on Military Road or have overcrowded buses,” Wilson said.
The government has framed the review as part of a broader shift towards “practical improvements” across the network, including intersection upgrades, traffic flow measures and bus reliability initiatives, alongside targeted investments such as the $85.1m Wakehurst Parkway upgrade.