This footage could explain one of the reasons why building the New South Wales Government’s new Sydney light rail network has been delayed by more than a year.
Daily Mail Australia has obtained video footage captured by a motorist waiting in traffic on Anzac Parade of a machine operator working on the multi-billion dollar network who doesn’t appear to have a clue of what they’re doing.
The footage shows the operator appear to be struggling with the machine as they try to shovel up dirt.
A motorist waiting in traffic on Anzac Parade captured footage of the machine operator digging dirt on the new Sydney Light Rail project
Just over half of the 24.7 kilometre track from Kingsford/Randwick to Circular Quay has been laid so far
Daily Mail Australia approached Transport for NSW on Friday morning for a response regarding the footage, which hadn’t responded as of late Friday.
The latest glitch for the controversial project comes after it was recently revealed it will not be ready for operation until 2019 – more than a year later than first anticipated and at least $500,000 over budget.
Just over half (14 kilometres) of the 24.7 kilometre track from Kingsford/Randwick to Circular Quay has been laid.
Under the original plans, almost all zones were supposed to be completed at the end of last year.
‘It’s fair to say NSW is an unhappy customer at the moment, New South Wales Transport Minister Andrew Constance recently told reporters.
Building light rail tracks across the intersection of Market and George Streets in the Sydney CBD presented new challenges for construction crews this week.
‘The intersection sits just 500mm above the pedestrian and shopping arcade below – that’s about the height of two iPads end to end,’ Sydney Light Rail posted on its Facebook page on Thursday.
Due to the proximity of the arcade below, engineers have been innovative with relocating utilities by fanning them out across the intersection.’
As a result, the Market and George intersection will be temporarily closed to traffic most weekends until early April.
Daily Mail Australia has approached Transport for NSW for answers as to what the machine operator was doing on the light rail network construction
It was recently revealed the new network will not be ready for operation until 2019 – more than a year later than first anticipated
Weekend works at the intersection of George Street with Bridge and Grosvenor Streets continue.
‘Now that the light rail track and the third rail that will power the light rail are in place, utility and finishing work is ongoing around the intersection to allow the road to be regraded to its final condition,’ its website states.
‘Traffic has now moved across to enable the team to complete civil, utilities and finishing works on the eastern side of the zone.’
The project also announced this week that the first tram has undergone testing on the Randwick end of the project on Alison Road.
Testing will be carried out at night and at low speeds, before progressing to daytime testing in the coming months.
‘With all track complete on Alison Road between Anzac Parade and Wansey Road, and poles and wires installed, the focus of activity in these zones will be testing and commissioning of the systems and light rail vehicles,’ the website states.
The New South Wales Government’s Sydney Light Rail project is at least $500,000 over budget
Under the original plans, the network was supposed to be almost completed at the end of 2017