A $5 billion proposal to build a tunnel linking the M4 motorway to Sydney Airport and Port Botany has been welcomed by the Sydney Chamber of Commerce.
"The project would tackle the economic cost of congestion head on," said Patrick Forsythe, Executive Director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce.
"An infrastructure project of this scale would make a significant economic contribution and would boost Sydney's competitiveness as a business destination.
"We've already seen how the Westlink M7 has benefited Greater Western Sydney and the movement of freight throughout the city.
"Currently major arterial roads, such as Parramatta Road, are clogged with trucks. This proposal would mean that many of these trucks could use an alternative route.
"The business community has been urging the NSW Government to look at visionary infrastructure projects. We are pleased that a project of this scale is open for consideration."
Mrs Forsythe has rejected criticism that the proposal encourages the use of trucks, instead of rail, when it comes to moving freight.
"Any major city relies on a combination of both road and rail freight. Sydney will always rely on a combination of road and rail freight."
Mrs Forsythe said that NSW Government's stated target of increasing the use of rail freight to 40 per cent of total movements reflected the work being done to increase freight movements across the board.
