Just surprised this hasn't been covered yet. Phase 2 (M5 East to St. Peter's interchange) is scheduled to open next year, with the middle gap and Rozelle interchange to come later. Despite the high tolls, suspect traffic counts/signing (Cross City Tunnel, CleM7, etc.), and NIMBYism, it's interesting to see Australia's growing network of tunnels being built so relatively fast observing from a country where SR 99 had countless delays.
Add also to the list, the NorthConnex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NorthConnex) who'll link the M1/Pacific Motorway to the M2 Hills Motorway completing a missing link that was needed for years.
I revive this thread by mentionning the M8 opening of the West Connex.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqSVbMH_kOA
And an other video posted last June about M8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhS-ZEEXZXI
Google Streetview had added the view of the Northconnex https://goo.gl/maps/8DQ6HJto2kC6a6JN9 as well as the Westconnex https://goo.gl/maps/178Dy1WN3PUYvEg48
Actually got to drive the NorthConnex (by accident because we made a wrong turn). Nice highway, very smooth, stupid expensive. Still, shaved a few minutes off our trip to Hornsby.
So why is Australia building so many freeways in tunnels? Is it environmental regulations or Australia's insane land prices driving up the cost of ROW acquisition?