NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey today confirmed construction of the Northern Beaches Link Tunnel — but said it will be at least six years before commuters can use it.

Ms Berejiklian refused to confirm a start date for construction or put a place a price tag on the project, but confirmed that door-knocking of at least 70 homes on Sydney’s north shore would begin within days to inform residents their properties were likely to be acquired for the project.

The new tunnel, which has been in the pipeline for up to three decades, would run from the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at Balgowlah to an interchange with the Warringah Freeway, the Premier confirmed.

“We anticipate construction will take about five years but when we start the project will be dependent on the work that we do in the next few months,” she said today.

media_camera NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian beside the Spit Bridge announcing the commitment to build the Northern Beaches Tunnel Link today. Picture: Virginia Young

media_camera The proposed Northern Beaches Tunnel link.

Ms Berejiklian defended the timing of the announcement only weeks out from three state by-elections, saying this was the first time real work on the Northern Beaches Link was going to be taking place.

“From today we start the real work on the ground in making this tunnel a reality and we (state government) know what this means, not just for the people on the northern beaches and the north shore but for the general population, because getting to and from this region at the moment is extremely difficult,” she said

“I do want to say that we are a government that does our homework and ensures that when we announce something that we get on and do it.

“I am really excited that today this means there is action on the ground on what has been a very long-awaited piece of infrastructure and let us not deny that people have been speaking about this project for decades.

“I appreciate some people in the community might say that ‘well it has been talked about for such a long time how can we believe you?’ I say look at our track record. Every single project we have announced we have actually put our focus and discipline into and are delivering.

“We are government that does do our homework and appreciates what infra means to the community and we are govt that has finances and strategy in place to be able to deliver this project.”

The NRMA backed the government’s announcement and said the beaches link was a critical piece in completing Sydney’s road network.

NRMA local director Tim Trumper said the $3 billion project would bypass 21 sets of lights and free up one of Sydney’s most congested regions.

“NRMA members on the northern beaches needs this tunnel, local businesses on the northern beaches needs this tunnel, bus commuters need this tunnel and Sydney needs this tunnel if it is ever to reach its potential as a truly world class city,” Mr Trumper said.

“The endless delays experienced daily by residents along the northern beaches is simply unacceptable and the congestion effects motorists and public transport users equally, because everyone uses the Spit Bridge.

“We need this tunnel to make it easier for local businesses to deliver goods and services, encourage more local tourism but most importantly of all, getting local residents home to their families on time each night — that alone is reason enough to get this tunnel built as soon as possible.”

The project, which has been estimated to cost at least $3 billion, will bypass up to 21 sets of traffic lights and slash travel times by about 40 minutes between Brookvale and the CBD.

Roads and Maritime Services will soon start door-knocking property owners of up to 71 home and businesses under threat of compulsory acquisition, the majority of which are in Artarmon, Cammeray, Seaforth and Balgowlah.

The Northern Beaches Link will connect to the yet to be constructed Western Harbour Tunnel at North Sydney which will connect to WestConnex at Rozelle taking pressure of the CBD and Anzac Bridge.

media_camera Warringah Freeway. Picture: John Grainger media_camera In the 1920s before the Spit Bridge was built.

Around $77 million will be poured into geo-technical work, which will involve drilling to test soil conditions along the preferred route.

Some 200 boreholes to be drilled along the route over the next six to nine months.

The announcement comes as Liberal candidates have been selected for by-elections on either side of the daily standstill — which the tunnel would bypass along with Military Rd and Mosman.

Former deputy Mayor James Griffin was selected for the Manly by-election while the former president of the NSW Liberal Women’s Council, Felicity Wilson was selected last night to run for the North Shore seat.