Government announced the proposal had progressed to Stage 3, which would include a competitive tender to select a design and construction contractor. In mid-2013, the F3 became known as the M1 Pacific Motorway and the proposed tunnels became the M1–M2 link. On 16 March 2014, the NSW Government reached an agreement with the M7 owners (later known as NorthWestern Roads Group) to build, maintain and operate the tunnel link. It was also announced that the tunnel link would be known as NorthConnex. Funding The 3 billion, consisting of a construction budget of A$2.65 billion in addition to land and project delivery costs, was funded through toll charges and a contribution from the NSW and Australian Governments of A$412.3 million each. The toll concessions of Westlink M7 and Lane Cove Tunnel were extended from 2037 to June 2048 to fund the project. The toll concession of the M2 Hills Motorway was also extended from 2046 to June 2048 for the M2's integration works with NorthConnex. Criticism There was community opposition and criticism to a proposed ventilation exhaust to be built for the tunnels near schools in Sydney. There is also some contention within the local community about how successful the chosen route option would be in easing traffic congestion on Pennant Hills Road. Ku-ring-gai Council has also raised a significant concern that the current proposal does not address the worsening traffic on the Pacific Highway from Wahroonga through to the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon. To help address this, construction of east-facing tunnel ramps under Pennant Hills Golf Course to the M2 Motorway may be considered in the future if required. Construction Along with the announcement of the NorthConnex name in March 2014, the Lendlease Bouygues joint venture was announced as the preferred construction contractor for the project. Planning approval for the construction and operation of NorthConnex was granted on 13 January 2015 by the NSW Minister of Planning. Preliminary work activities started on 5 February 2015 and continued until major construction began in mid-2015. Tunnelling began in April 2016 and finished in October/November 2018. In conjunction with Hornsby Shire Council, the spoil removed from NorthConnex tunnelling was used to fill Hornsby Quarry to enable rehabilitation of the old quarry into a new public parkland. The project was originally due to be completed by the end of 2019 but was delayed with the contractor citing the depth of the tunnel (90m)