HISTORIC WESTCONNEX OPEN DAY
HISTORIC WESTCONNEX OPEN DAY
18 Dec 2022
Communities will come together today for the first opportunity to see inside the new WestConnex M4 and M8 extensions before they open to traffic early next year.
Transurban’s WestConnex Group Executive Andrew Head said the Community Open Day at St Peters, hosted by Transurban, has seen buses booked out as locals flock to get a sneak peek of the new world class 7.5km tunnels.
“Today is an historic occasion, with local residents, commuters, business owners, families and people from across NSW joining together to find out how this new motorway link will transform how they move around our city,” Mr Head said.
“It’s not that often we get to see inside a brand new tunnel in Sydney, and today more than 2,000 people will catch a bus underground, step out and see this incredible piece of infrastructure which will soon become an integral part of our road network.
“COVID restrictions meant no community days were possible for the WestConnex M8 and NorthConnex, so this is a special day to share with the local community and thank them for their patience during construction. It’s also a chance to share how traffic on surface roads are expected to reduce, boosting liveability in local communities.”
Transurban’s WestConnex Project Director Terry Chapman said the $3.2 billion tunnels would extend and connect the M4 and M8 motorways between St Peters and Haberfield for the first time, to create a 22km underground orbital of the city.
“Drivers are expected to have safer, more reliable and faster journeys, with WestConnex slashing travel times between Parramatta and Mascot by up to 40 minutes in peak periods and bypassing up to 52 sets of traffic lights,” Mr Chapman said.
“Around 12,000 people have helped build this city-shaping project, which has had safety and sustainability as key priorities ever since work started in October 2018.”
More than 18 hectares of green space is being delivered as part of WestConnex, as well as 23km of new and improved cycleways and walkways. This is in addition to planting more than a million trees, plants and shrubs, resulting in a net increase.
The toll to use WestConnex is distance-based and capped, so you only pay for the section of motorway you use, and only up to a set amount. The toll on the M4-M8 link will be $5.65 for cars and $16.95 for heavy vehicles.
A new WestConnex portal and interactive website has been launched by Transurban, where you can plan your journey, win a chance to be the first driver through, watch driver animations, hear from experts, learn about sustainability initiatives on the project and more.
