Westlink M7 Motorway

The Westlink M7 motorway opened on 16 December 2005 - eight months ahead of schedule.

The 40 kilometre Westlink M7 links the M2 at West Baulkham Hills, the M4 at Eastern Creek and the M5 / Hume Highway at Prestons.

Westlink M7 bypasses 48 sets of traffic lights, allowing a journey from south of Liverpool to Pennant Hills in less than 30 minutes. This trip would previously have taken up to an hour longer.

Most travel routes in western Sydney have experienced improved travel speeds and reduced travel times, with Westlink M7 taking an estimated 60,000 vehicles per day, including 10,000 heavy vehicles, off the existing western Sydney road network.

Many local roads have been upgraded in conjunction with this project, including Hoxton Park Road, Elizabeth Drive, The Horsley Drive, Richmond Road, Sunnyholt Road, Camden Valley Way, Bernera Road, Jedda Road and Joadja Road. The opening of the M7 together with these local road improvements have reduced travel times across Western Sydney.

Cyclists and walkers now have a high quality off-road pedestrian and cycle path stretching for almost 40 kilometres between Prestons and West Baulkham Hills. It is considered to be the longest of its type in Australia.

Development and construction of the project employed 1,500 people. The Greater Western Sydney Economic Development Board estimates that Westlink M7 will generate 24,000 new jobs in Western Sydney in the next three years and an additional $3 billion in economic development.

Motorway features

• Four traffic lanes (two in each direction), a wide central median, shoulders, cuttings and embankments.
• Built to motorway standard, the Westlink M7 provides safe travel at variable speeds of up to 100km/h.
• 17 interchanges.
• 38 overpasses and underpasses to maintain local access for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
• An off-road pedestrian and cycle path of almost 40 km.

Background

Westlink M7 is the new name for the road previously known as the Western Sydney Orbital.

Major construction started on the Westlink M7 on 7 July 2003. The 40km Westlink M7 was Australia's biggest urban road project and provides a key link in Sydney's orbital road network of motorways.

The project's Environmental Impact Statement went on public exhibition from 8 January to 5 March 2001. On 28 February 2002, the NSW Minister for Infrastructure and Planning approved the project. In February 2003, the WestLink Motorway Limited consortium entered an agreement with the Roads & Traffic Authority to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain Westlink M7 motorway. The Federal Government has contributed $356 million towards the construction of this link with the remainder of the $1.5 billion cost being met by the private sector.

The WestLink consortium was selected to design, construct, maintain and operate the Westlink M7 for a total of 34 years, after which it is transferred back to the Government. The equity investors in the WestLink consortium are Transurban, Macquarie Infrastructure Group, Leighton Contractors and Abigroup Contractors.

A company comprising Abigroup Contractors and Leighton Contractors undertook design and construction of the Westlink M7. The organisation is the Abigroup Leighton Joint Venture (ALJV).

The RTA coordinated the project's development, environmental assessment and planning approval phases. During the implementation phases, the RTA also administered the project deed to ensure the consortium delivered the Westlink M7 according to the agreed scope and approval conditions.

Operational noise monitoring report

The operational noise monitoring report for the Westlink M7 project is now available on the Westlink M7 website.

Further information

To visit the Westlink M7 website follow the link in the 'Related links' box (above right).

Contact

For general information regarding the Westlink M7 please call 9834 9200. For information regarding toll products and services please call 13 86 55.