NorthConnex worker injured in trench collapse

Construction crews were ordered to stop work on the $2.6 billion NorthConnex project this morning after a worker was injured when a trench collapsed.

Just after 8am, the man aged in his late 30s was working in a trench near the tunnel’s surface in West Pennant Hills when soil and rocks beside him gave way.

He managed to free himself from the rubble, but suffered minor injuries to his back and ankle.

As a precaution, work on the site was temporarily suspended while workers checked on their injured colleague.

The worker was awake and conscious when Ambulance NSW Paramedics arrived to assess him, and he was then taken to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance tells Nine News: “Roads and Maritime Services is aware of an incident on the NorthConnex project and will support SafeWork NSW with any investigation”.

A SafeWork NSW inspector is currently on site reviewing the scene and safety procedures for the project, which will see twin nine kilometre dual-lane tunnels link Sydney’s M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga to the Hills M2 Motorway at Pennant Hills Road.

Construction is expected to be completed next year.