Infrastructure: WestConnex extensions to link Sydney’s north and south

Planning work for two extensions to the WestConnex motorway have begun, which will ease congestion and provide an uninterrupted north-south corridor.

The extensions will run from Sydney’s south to the ANZAC Bridge, CBD at Darling Harbour and the north.

Premier Mike Baird said that for the first time Sydney would have a genuine north-south corridor to the west of the CBD, which would complement the Eastern Distributor and reduce pressure on that transport corridor.

“It could also provide significant relief to the City West Link at Haberfield by allowing motorists to bypass traffic lights along that stretch of road and connect directly to the CBD at Darling Harbour,” Mr Baird said.

“M4 motorists travelling from Parramatta to Sydney’s CBD could completely avoid the City West Link and travel a motorway road all the way to the city.”

The NSW government has asked the WestConnex Delivery Authority to prepare a business case for the extensions, which include:

• South – linking towards Sutherland Shire and the Illawarra.
• North – linking towards the ANZAC Bridge and Victoria Road.

The authority will report back to the government by the end of 2014.

WestConnex will create 10,000 jobs, including hundreds of apprenticeships for young people, and generate $20 billion in benefits to NSW during construction alone.

Mr Baird said the NSW Government’s proposal to unlock $20 billion for critical infrastructure projects across NSW meant projects like WestConnex could be fast-tracked.

Source: News Release NSW Government media release, 12 June 2014

http://www.nsw.gov.au/news/westconnex-extension-eases-congestion