Accidents prompt upgrade for Sydney Opera House

Updated at: 1008 PST, Sunday, June 06, 2010
SYDNEY: Traffic accidents outside the Sydney Opera House, many involving tourists, have prompted a 125 million US dollar spend on building works for the sail-shaped building, officials said Sunday.

The monument will receive the biggest investment in its 37-year history after it was revealed traffic incidents occurred almost daily on the harbour foreshore outside the building, some involving sightseers being hit by trucks.

"Anyone who spends any time at the Opera House and here on the forecourt is aware of the multiple incidents that happen here on a daily basis," the landmark's chief executive Richard Evans told reporters.

"There have been 200 reported incidents, many of which have necessitated ambulances coming... many of these people are tourists and then ended up getting flown home. It's really not a great situation."

Evans said the proposed works, which will reduce the potential for collisions with pedestrians by creating an access tunnel linking to a new underground loading dock, would be "completely transformative".