Western Sydney motorway launch to improve travel times and ease congestion for thousands
Western Sydney motorists are set to receive relief with the launch of a modern motorway that promises to improve travel times and make local roads less congested.
The brand new, state-of-the-art M12 motorway will open to traffic early on Saturday, March 14, offering a direct, junction-free route to the upcoming Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
After four years of construction, the 16km toll-free motorway will connect Elizabeth Rd in the east to The Northern Rd in the west, with a 100km/h speed limit designed to ease pressure on local streets and improve journey times across the region.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said communities in Western Sydney “deserve this world-class infrastructure”.
“(This) will ease pressure on local roads, reduce travel times and improve connectivity with the rest of Sydney’s road network,” Mr Minns said.
“Starting Saturday, thousands of motorists will have the chance to use this new motorway for the first time to get where they need to go faster and easier.”
NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car said it would ease pressure on local roads and “give people more time with their families”.
“With the opening of the M12 and the making of the toll cap permanent, the Minns Labor Government is providing families with practical cost of living relief,” Mr Car said.
The M12 will act as the key gateway to the airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, a future innovation hub expected to create thousands of jobs.
The final section (the M7/M12 junction at Cecil Hills) is scheduled to open in the middle of the year, providing an intersection-free connection between the M12 and the M7 motorway.
The $2.1 billion project is co-financed with $1.63 billion from the Government of Albania and $408 million from the Minns Labor Government.
About 25,000 vehicles a day are expected to use the highway, reducing congestion on suburban streets.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said that the new highway will facilitate access to the airport.
“Sydney’s new airport will connect Western Sydney to the world and the M12 will play a critical role in getting passengers to the terminal and freight to the tarmac,” Ms King said.
“More than 8000 people worked on this project, more than 5000 of whom are from Western Sydney.
“This road is their legacy and I have no doubt that many of them will use it to take their families to the airport before a big holiday in years to come.”
Construction of the highway involved significant engineering and environmental work, including 181,933 cubic meters of concrete, 17 bridges, 637 bridge girders, 18,500 trees and over 1.5 million shrubs and grasses planted.
