fbpx
Wikipedia

M4 Motorway (Sydney)

The M4 Motorway is a 52.6-kilometre (32.7 mi) partially tolled dual carriageway motorway in Sydney, New South Wales that is designated the M4 route marker. The M4 designation is part of the wider A4 and M4 route designation, the M4 runs parallel/below ground to the Great Western Highway and Parramatta Road (A44).

M4 Motorway

Aerial view looking east in December 2010
General information
TypeMotorway
Length52.6 km (33 mi)[1]
Opened1971–1993 (Glenbrook-Strathfield)
2019 (Strathfield–Haberfield)
2023 (Haberfield-Leichhardt)
Route number(s) M4 (2013–present)
Former
route number
  • Metroad 4 (1992–2013)
  • Freeway F4 (1973–1992)
  • National Route 32 (1971–1992)
Major junctions
East end M8 Motorway
 
West end Great Western Highway
Glenbrook, Sydney
Location(s)
Major suburbs / townsPenrith, Prospect, Parramatta, Granville, Clyde, Auburn, Homebush, Concord
Highway system

The M4 Motorway comprises three connected parts:

  • The Western Motorway is the original section completed between 1971 and 1993, spanning between Concord and Glenbrook where it continues as the A32 Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains towards Bathurst. In 2017, the section between Church Street in Parramatta to Concord was widened and tolled as part of the WestConnex.[2][3][4][5]
  • The WestConnex M4 is a 5.6-kilometre (3.5 mi) tunnel from Homebush to Haberfield. It was completed and opened to traffic on 13 July 2019 as part of the WestConnex.[6][7][8]
  • The M4 & M8 Extensions extends the WestConnex M4 from Haberfield to Leichhardt where it meets the M8 Motorway and the Rozelle Interchange to allow connections with Victoria Road and the Anzac Bridge. The extension was partially completed and opened on 20 January 2023 as part of the WestConnex while the remaining section between Leichhardt and Rozelle will open in late 2023.[9][10][11]

Approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi) of the motorway is not tolled, that section being the road between Merrylands and Glenbrook. The section between Parramatta and Haberfield, known as WestConnex M4, is tolled as it is part of the WestConnex.[5][12] However the section between Haberfield and Leichhardt is not considered part of WestConnex M4, despite having been designated the M4 route marker.[13]

The M4 cycleway runs parallel to the M4 Motorway between Sydney Olympic Park and South Wentworthville.

Sections Edit

Alignment Edit

 

The first main road west from Sydney was the Great Western Highway, shown above in orange. The County of Cumberland planning scheme provided for a modified route west, much of which was later built as the M4 Western Motorway. With the opening of the M4 East tunnel in 2019, the M4 extends as far east as Dalhousie Street, Haberfield.

Western Motorway Edit

 
M4 Motorway looking East from the Olympic Park line
 
M4 Tunnel entrance at North Strathfield looking east

The Western Motorway was originally constructed in several stages as the F4 Western Freeway between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s: the first 5km-long section between Emu Plains and Regentville (including a new bridge over the Nepean River) opened in October 1971; the second 14.5km-long section between Regentville and Eastern Creek opened in December 1972; the third 4km-long section between Eastern Creek and Prospect opened in April 1974.[14] On the basis of a pre-election promise made by the NSW Premier Neville Wran in 1976, all land reserved for the expressway between Pyrmont and the (then) eastern termination point at Strathfield was sold off to property developers or declassified as a freeway corridor in 1977 by the State Government.[15][16] The F4 Western Freeway from Strathfield to Auburn was opened on 16 December 1982 by Premier Wran.[14][17] However a lack of funding resulted in the Wran Labor government halting plans to construct the final stage between Mays Hill and Prospect in 1985. In December 1989 work to construct this stage began as a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer project.[18] In return for funding construction StateWide Roads, the consortium awarded to build the stage, was given permission to toll the section between James Ruse Drive and Silverwater Road as traffic volumes on this section were significantly higher than between Mays Hill-Prospect and would allow a shorter toll period with lower tolls. The consortium would also widen the section between James Ruse Drive and the newly constructed Homebush Bay Drive to six lanes. The Mays Hill to Prospect section opened in May 1992 and an initial of a $1.50 toll was implemented. The concession held by StateWide Roads ended on 15 February 2010, with operation of the motorway returned to the Roads and Traffic Authority and the toll removed. At the time, StateWide Roads was owned by Transurban (50.6%) and Utilities Trust of Australia (21.5%).[19]

The motorway is mostly three or four lanes wide in either direction, and carries constant heavy traffic during daylight hours, seven days a week. Built as a four-lane motorway, it was widened to six lanes during 1998 to 2000, but this did little to ease the congestion.[citation needed]

Originally planned in the mid-1950s to start in the Sydney central business district,[20] the eastern section was built only as far west as Pyrmont, as part of the North West Expressway, or F3, a freeway that would connect the Sydney and Newcastle central business districts. This section is now part of the Western Distributor. From there it was to have joined with the Western Expressway, the F4, and the Southern Expressway, the F6, in Glebe.[21] At the western end of the Western Freeway as it was known in the late 1960s was to be routed through the Mitchell's Pass area through to Blaxland, however due to protests and the fact that the historic Lennox Bridge was very close to the intended pathway, it was decided to terminate the road at Russell Street, Emu Plains until a solution could be later found. This would have bypassed the Lapstone Hill area and avoided the sharp bends as the road enters Glenbrook. In December 1989 the extension of the freeway from Russell Street, west to the Great Western Highway in the vicinity of Governors Drive would bypass the narrow and winding section of the Great Western Highway, including the historic Knapsack Bridge. In June 1993, the new section of freeway between Emu Plains and Lapstone was opened to traffic.[22]

In 2013, the state government announced the intention to implement a 'Managed Motorway' scheme on the M4 over the coming years to improve traffic flow. Mechanisms to be used include improved Variable Message Signs, Ramp metering signals, dynamic speed and incident management, and an upgrade of the Emergency Telephone System.[23]

The Western Motorway used to be part of the Sydney Metroad 4 until 2013, when the new M4 route designation was proclaimed along the whole motorway.[24]

The section between Church Street in Parramatta and the eastern end at Concord was widened as part of WestConnex works. Construction commenced in March 2015 and in November 2015, it was announced that toll points would be reinstated on this section from 2017 to cover costs of the WestConnex project. The toll was introduced on 15 August 2017.[5]

WestConnex M4 Edit

WestConnex M4 Tunnel
 
WestConnex M4 Tunnel western exit at Homebush
Overview
RouteM4 Motorway  
StartHaberfield (east)
EndHomebush (west)
Operation
Work begun2015
Constructed
Opened13 July 2019 (2019-07-13)
OwnerWestConnex
OperatorSydney Motorway Corporation
Toll$4.41 (2020 dollars, subject to indexing, each way)
Technical
Length5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi)
No. of lanes3 in each direction
Operating speed80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) (variable speed limit)

Up until 2019, the eastern end of the M4 was at North Strathfield, some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Sydney central business district. Over the years a number of proposals were made to extend the M4 east towards the city. One plan in the 1990s involved extending the M4 eastwards by approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) so that it would subsequently end in Ashfield and be continuous with the City West Link. Further planned upgrades to the City West Link would mean commuters going west out of the city could get to Parramatta without passing through traffic lights.

The government proposed a subsequent $7 billion plan for M4 East in July 2002, including three options:[25][26]

  • short tunnel option: a 3.6-kilometre (2.2 mi) tunnel between the M4 at Concord and City West Link and Parramatta Road at Haberfield
  • long tunnel option: a 6.5-kilometre (4.0 mi) tunnel between the M4 at Concord and City West Link at Lilyfield
  • slot option: a sunken trench road similar to the Eastern Distributor, between the M4 at Concord and Parramatta Road at Haberfield

All three options would run below or parallel to Parramatta Road and/or City West Link. The short tunnel option was preferred for having lower costs both during construction and operation. The long tunnel option was considered to have the potential to increase congestion on the approaches to Anzac Bridge, causing eastbound queues to extend into the tunnels. The slot option could be constructed at a similar cost to the short tunnel, however, it was considered to not provide the same level of traffic benefits as the short tunnel option. Additionally, the option would need to acquire additional properties and the construction period for this option would be longer.[26]

Between 2003 and 2004, the preferred short tunnel option for an eastern extension of the M4 Motorway was exhibited.[26] Members of the government were divided over the M4 East proposal and ultimately did not proceed with it in early 2005 due to community opposition.[25][27] The preferred option eventually formed the basis of the concept design for the M4 East project of the WestConnex.

In the month prior to the 2011 state election, the NRMA released a report in which it recommended building a tunnel to connect the end of the M4 at Concord and the start of the City West Link, relieving Parramatta Road of enough traffic to convert it into two lanes for slower-moving local traffic, two lanes of light rail and a cycleway.[28] The report argued that this would allow Parramatta Road to be transformed with medium-density housing, shops and cafes and that the $10.04 billion in additional stamp duty and other revenues from this would pay for the $7.38 billion price tag of the project.[29]

In October 2012, the NSW Government announced their commitment to deliver the WestConnex project, involving widening the existing M4 motorway as well as extending it east with a tunnel from North Strathfield to Taverners Hill. The project also involved duplicating the M5 East tunnel and building a new tunnel linking the M4 and M5 motorways.[30]

In June 2015, the tender to design and build the WestConnex M4 Tunnel was awarded to Leighton Contractors, Samsung and John Holland.[31] Located 35 metres (115 ft) beneath Parramatta Road, the 5.5-kilometre (3 mi) dual-tunnel was funded through a $1.8 billion grant from the NSW Government and, from the Australian Government, a $1.5 billion grant and concessional loan of up to $2 billion, plus user tolling.[32] The M4 East opened to traffic on 13 July 2019[7][8] and tolls were levied on both the M4 East Tunnel ($4.41 in 2020,[33] comprising a flagfall and a change per distance travelled, subject to indexing) and the widening of the M4 between Parramatta and Homebush (base of $4.21 each way, subject to indexing). Both tolls will continue until 2060.[34][35]

M4 & M8 Extensions Edit

Stage 3 of the WestConnex scheme saw a new motorway connection running from the end of the M4 at Haberfield to connect with the airport and the M8 Motorway (formerly the New M5) at St Peters, along with an interchange at Rozelle linking to the Anzac Bridge and Victoria Road (Iron Cove Bridge). This section would aim to reduce travel times between Western Sydney and Port Botany while removing heavy vehicles from surface streets in the Inner West.[36][37]

In September 2022, the government announced that the connection would be referred to as extensions of the M4 and M8 when the connection opened.[9] The main tunnels between WestConnex M4 Tunnels at Haberfield and the M8 Tunnels at St Peters opened on 20 January 2023, with the M4 and M8 route markers extended to meet at Leichhardt, where the connection to Rozelle Interchange would branch off from the main tunnels. The connection to Rozelle Interchange (and a further extension of the M4 and M8 route markers) will open in late 2023.[10]

M4 Smart Motorway Project Edit

In July 2019, the NSW government announced its M4 Smart Motorway Project[38] which involves widening the on and off ramps for the untolled section of the motorway between Lapstone and Mays Hill, including the installation of overhead gantries with variable speed limit displays and traffic signals on the on-ramps between Orchard Hills and Mays Hill for traffic metering during peak periods.

Toll Edit

The WestConnex section of the M4 between Church Street, Parramatta and Haberfield are tolled by distance travelled as part of the WestConnex. Toll points are located at entrances and exits along this section. The toll charge consists of:

Tolls for heavy vehicles are triple of cars and motorcycles. Toll prices increase by 4% or the consumer price index (CPI) every year, whichever is greater, until 2040, after which CPI will apply.[39]

Toll prices as of 1 July 2023[40]
Toll road Class A toll prices[a] Class B toll prices[a] Toll increase[42] Toll concessionaire Expiry of toll concession[43]
Flagfall Charge per km Toll cap


WestConnex
(M4, M5 East, M8)
$1.57 $0.5814 $11.11 3 x of Class A prices Annually on 1 January, by the greater of CPI or 4% until December 2040, then by CPI only Sydney Transport Partners
(9% Tawreed Investments Limited, 10.5% CPPIB, 10% Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), 20.5% Australian Super, 50% Transurban)
2060


  1. ^ a b Class A vehicles are typically cars and motorcycles; Class B vehicles are all other vehicles including trucks and heavy vehicles[41]

A toll point was previously introduced between James Ruse Drive and Silverwater Road in both directions until the toll was removed on 16 February 2010, when the M4 ownership was returned to the state government.[44]

Exits and interchanges Edit

LGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Blue MountainsGlenbrook00.0  Great Western Highway (A32) – Katoomba, Lithgow, BathurstWestern terminus of motorway and route M4;
Road continues as Great Western Highway
Blue MountainsPenrith boundaryGlenbrookEmu PlainsLeonay tripoint0.60.37Blue Mountains railway line
PenrithEmu PlainsLeonay boundary1.71.1  Russell Street (A44) – Emu Plains, PenrithOffset dumbbell interchange
Nepean River2.61.6Regentville Bridge
PenrithJamisontownRegentville boundary4.02.5Mulgoa Road – Mulgoa, PenrithDiamond interchange
Glenmore ParkSouth PenrithOrchard Hills tripoint7.54.7   The Northern Road (A9)  – Windsor, Narellan, Nepean HospitalSingle-point urban interchange
Orchard HillsClaremont Meadows boundary12.77.9Kent Road – Orchard Hills, WerringtonHalf-diamond interchange, eastbound entrance and westbound exit only
South Creek13.28.2Bridge over the river (no known name)
PenrithOrchard HillsSt ClairSt Marys tripoint13.78.5Mamre Road – St Marys, Badgerys CreekPartial cloverleaf interchange
Erskine ParkColyton boundary17.210.7Roper Road (north) – Mt Druitt, Lethbridge Park
Erskine Park Road (south) – Erskine Park
Partial cloverleaf interchange, eastbound and westbound entrance, westbound exit only
BlacktownEastern CreekMinchinbury boundary21.613.4Wallgrove Road – Horsley Park, Rooty HillDiamond interchange
   Westlink M7 (M7) – Dean Park, Bella Vista, Prestons, Sydney Airport (via M5)Light Horse Interchange: modified four-level stack interchange; tolled entrance to and exit from M7
HuntingwoodBlacktownProspect tripoint25.515.8Reservoir Road – Pemulwuy, Blacktown, Sydney Motorsport Park, Prospect ReservoirPartial diamond and partial cloverleaf interchange
Prospect27.417.0Prospect Highway – Pemulwuy, Prospect, Wet'n'Wild, Prospect ReservoirPartial offset dumbbell interchange
ParramattaGreystanesSouth Wentworthville boundary32.019.9   Cumberland Highway (A28) – Wahroonga, Pennant Hills, Liverpool, Westmead and Children's hospitalsDiamond interchange
South WentworthvilleMerrylands boundary33.720.9  Great Western Highway (A44) – Wentworthville, Westmead, Parramatta
  Coleman Street – Westmead, Merrylands, Westmead and Children's hospitals
Eastbound entrance ramp from Great Western Highway;
Westbound exit via Coleman Street
Merrylands34.621.5Burnett Street – Merrylands, ParramattaEastbound entrance and westbound exit only
Holroyd35.922.3Western boundary of toll road
HolroydGranville boundary36.222.5  Church Street (Great Western Highway) (A44 north) – Parramatta
  Parramatta Road (Great Western Highway) (A44 east) – Granville, Strathfield
Woodville Road (south) – Villawood
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only
No right turn from Church Street into westbound entrance ramp
Clyde37.723.4James Ruse Drive (north) – Rose Hill, North Parramatta, NorthmeadEastbound exit to the north only, westbound entrance from the north only
37.823.5James Ruse Drive – Rose Hill, North Parramatta, Northmead, to Great Western HighwayEastbound entrance and westbound exit only
Duck River38.824.1Bridge over the river (no known name)
CumberlandAuburnLidcombe boundary40.425.1  Silverwater Road (A6) – Bankstown, Heathcote, Silverwater, CarlingfordDiamond interchange
Haslams Creek41.225.6Bridge over the river (no known name)
CumberlandLidcombe41.625.8Hill Road – Lidcombe, Wentworth Point, Sydney Olympic ParkEastbound exit to the north, eastbound and westbound entrances from the north only
Homebush West43.326.9  Homebush Bay Drive (A3 north) – Ryde, Mona Vale, Sydney Olympic Park
  Centenary Drive (A3 south) – Homebush West, Beverley Hills, Blakehurst
Offset diamond interchange hybrid; westbound entrance from the north is via a loop
StrathfieldHomebush44.027.3M4 Western Motorway eastern terminus; M4 East western terminusM4 East Tunnel entrance/exit
45.028.0  Parramatta Road (Great Western Highway) (A44)  – HomebushWestbound entrance only
Powells Creek45.128.0Tunnel under creek, bridge over the creek (no known name)
StrathfieldNorth Strathfield45.528.3Sydney Street (to Concord Road) – North Strathfield, Strathfield, ConcordSurface entrance and exit:
Eastbound exit to the north and south, westbound entrance from the north only
Concord Road – North Strathfield, Strathfield, ConcordTunnel entrance and exit:
Eastbound entrance and westbound exit only
North StrathfieldConcord boundary45.928.5  Parramatta Road (Great Western Highway) (A44) – Burwood, Five DockWestbound entrance from and eastbound exit to east only
Eastern terminus of surface-level roadway
Iron Cove Creek48.930.4Tunnel under the creek
Inner WestHaberfield49.330.6M4 East eastern terminus; M4-M8 Link western terminus
  Wattle Street (City West Link) (A44) – Haberfield, Rozelle, SydneyWestbound entrance from and eastbound exit to the north only
Eastbound entrance from and westbound exit to the south only
HaberfieldAshfield boundary49.630.8  Parramatta Road (Great Western Highway) (A22) – Leichhardt, HaymarketWestbound entrance from and eastbound exit to the east only
Hawthorne Canal51.231.8Tunnel under the canal
Inner WestLeichhardt52.632.7   M8 Motorway (M8) – St Peters, Sydney AirportM4 Motorway eastern terminus;
Road continues as M8 Motorway along M4-M8 Link
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b Google (22 January 2023). "M4 Motorway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ Western Motorway (M4) Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website. Retrieved on 29 August 2008.[self-published source]
  3. ^ Historic Photos, Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website. Retrieved on 29 August 2008.[self-published source]
  4. ^ M4 Photos Today, Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website. Retrieved on 29 August 2008.
  5. ^ a b c . WestConnex. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  6. ^ Alpha Numeric Implementation Factsheet, Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 28 May 2013
  7. ^ a b "WestConnex". NSW Government. from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. ^ a b "New M4 tunnels to open this weekend". WestConnex. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b "M4-M5 link to be renamed". NSW Government. 13 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b "WestConnex nears completion with new 7.5km tunnel opening tomorrow under Sydney's inner west". ABC News. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Map of the new extensions of the M4 and M8" (PDF). WestConnex. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  12. ^ . WestConnex. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  13. ^ "WestConnex M4". WestConnex. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  14. ^ a b "JOURNAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MAIN ROADS, NEW SOUTH WALES" (PDF). Main Roads. Sydney: OpenGov NSW. 48 (1): 3–6. March 1983.
  15. ^ Lucy, Richard (1979). "Wran's our man: The 1978 NSW state election". Politics. 14 (1): 89–96. doi:10.1080/00323267908401697. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. ^ Black, John (2006). Bramston, Troy (ed.). Transport. pp. 134–142. ISBN 1862876053. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  17. ^ Jones, Cathy (31 January 2017). "M4 Motorway History". Strathfield Heritage. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Department of Main Roads Annual Report 1988-89" (PDF). OpenGov NSW. Department of Main Roads. p. 6, 31. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  19. ^ Li, Zheng; Hensher, David (September 2010). "Toll Roads in Australia: An Overview of Characteristics and Accuracy of Demand Forecasts". Transport Reviews. 30 (5): 541–569. doi:10.1080/01441640903211173. S2CID 153484704. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  20. ^ Western Motorway (M4) Construction, Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website. Retrieved on 29 August 2008.[self-published source]
  21. ^ Torr, Bradley. . Geocities. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)[self-published source]
  22. ^ "Knapsack Viaduct, Lapstone". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  23. ^ Benefits, Features and Tools of a Managed Motorway – Roads and Traffic Authority. Retrieved on 24 October 2013.
  24. ^ "M4 Motorway Website". Statewide Roads. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  25. ^ a b Goodsir, Darren (18 June 2004). "Carr's rivals fume in clash over M4 East". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  26. ^ a b c "M4 East Environmental Impact Statement - Volume 1A Part 1". WestConnex. September 2015. p. 4-1 to 4-3, 4-12 to 4-13. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  27. ^ "M4 East and Marrickville Tunnel". Marrickville Greens. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Boulevard of dreams comes with a hidden cost". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  29. ^ (Press release). NRMA. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  30. ^ "WestConnext Green Light" (Press release). WestConnex: Government of New South Wales. 3 October 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  31. ^ "Leighton team scoops $2.7bn Sydney motorway". Construction Index. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  32. ^ (PDF). WestConnex. NSW Government and Australian Government. September 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Toll calculator". Using toll roads. Linkt: Transurban Limited. 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  34. ^ "WestConnex M5 Project Deed Schedules" (PDF). Roads & Maritime Services. Government of New South Wales. 2015.
  35. ^ West, Michael (28 February 2018). "WestConnex: when four tollroads become ten". Michael West Media. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  36. ^ Infrastructure New South Wales (2012). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  37. ^ "M4-M5 Link Tunnels". WestConnex. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  38. ^ Roads and Maritime Services, N. S. W. "M4 Smart Motorway project". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  39. ^ "Tolling". WestConnex. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Toll costs by road". NSW Government. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  41. ^ "What is my vehicle class?". Linkt. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  42. ^ "When and how do toll prices increase". Linkt. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  43. ^ "Road tolling in New South Wales" (PDF). New South Wales Parliament. Portfolio Committee No.2 – Health and Community Services. October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  44. ^ "Sydney's M4 Toll to be abolished". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2010.

External links Edit

  • Timelapse footage of the whole M4 Motorway on YouTube
  • O'Sullivan, Matt; Saulwick, Jacob (2016). "Sydney 2026: Chapter 1: The future of Sydney roads and rail: The Commute". The Sydney Morning Herald.

motorway, sydney, confused, with, great, western, highway, motorway, kilometre, partially, tolled, dual, carriageway, motorway, sydney, south, wales, that, designated, route, marker, designation, part, wider, route, designation, runs, parallel, below, ground, . Not to be confused with Great Western Highway The M4 Motorway is a 52 6 kilometre 32 7 mi partially tolled dual carriageway motorway in Sydney New South Wales that is designated the M4 route marker The M4 designation is part of the wider A4 and M4 route designation the M4 runs parallel below ground to the Great Western Highway and Parramatta Road A44 M4 MotorwayNew South WalesAerial view looking east in December 2010General informationTypeMotorwayLength52 6 km 33 mi 1 Opened1971 1993 Glenbrook Strathfield 2019 Strathfield Haberfield 2023 Haberfield Leichhardt Route number s M4 2013 present Formerroute numberMetroad 4 1992 2013 Freeway F4 1973 1992 National Route 32 1971 1992 Major junctionsEast endM8 MotorwayLeichhardt Sydney Parramatta Road City West Link Homebush Bay Drive Silverwater Road Great Western Highway Cumberland Highway Prospect Highway Westlink M7 The Northern RoadWest endGreat Western HighwayGlenbrook SydneyLocation s Major suburbs townsPenrith Prospect Parramatta Granville Clyde Auburn Homebush ConcordHighway systemHighways in Australia National Highway Freeways in Australia Highways in New South WalesThe M4 Motorway comprises three connected parts The Western Motorway is the original section completed between 1971 and 1993 spanning between Concord and Glenbrook where it continues as the A32 Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains towards Bathurst In 2017 the section between Church Street in Parramatta to Concord was widened and tolled as part of the WestConnex 2 3 4 5 The WestConnex M4 is a 5 6 kilometre 3 5 mi tunnel from Homebush to Haberfield It was completed and opened to traffic on 13 July 2019 as part of the WestConnex 6 7 8 The M4 amp M8 Extensions extends the WestConnex M4 from Haberfield to Leichhardt where it meets the M8 Motorway and the Rozelle Interchange to allow connections with Victoria Road and the Anzac Bridge The extension was partially completed and opened on 20 January 2023 as part of the WestConnex while the remaining section between Leichhardt and Rozelle will open in late 2023 9 10 11 Approximately 36 kilometres 22 mi of the motorway is not tolled that section being the road between Merrylands and Glenbrook The section between Parramatta and Haberfield known as WestConnex M4 is tolled as it is part of the WestConnex 5 12 However the section between Haberfield and Leichhardt is not considered part of WestConnex M4 despite having been designated the M4 route marker 13 The M4 cycleway runs parallel to the M4 Motorway between Sydney Olympic Park and South Wentworthville Contents 1 Sections 1 1 Alignment 1 2 Western Motorway 1 3 WestConnex M4 1 4 M4 amp M8 Extensions 1 5 M4 Smart Motorway Project 2 Toll 3 Exits and interchanges 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksSections EditAlignment Edit nbsp The first main road west from Sydney was the Great Western Highway shown above in orange The County of Cumberland planning scheme provided for a modified route west much of which was later built as the M4 Western Motorway With the opening of the M4 East tunnel in 2019 the M4 extends as far east as Dalhousie Street Haberfield Western Motorway Edit nbsp M4 Motorway looking East from the Olympic Park line nbsp M4 Tunnel entrance at North Strathfield looking eastThe Western Motorway was originally constructed in several stages as the F4 Western Freeway between the late 1960s and the mid 1980s the first 5km long section between Emu Plains and Regentville including a new bridge over the Nepean River opened in October 1971 the second 14 5km long section between Regentville and Eastern Creek opened in December 1972 the third 4km long section between Eastern Creek and Prospect opened in April 1974 14 On the basis of a pre election promise made by the NSW Premier Neville Wran in 1976 all land reserved for the expressway between Pyrmont and the then eastern termination point at Strathfield was sold off to property developers or declassified as a freeway corridor in 1977 by the State Government 15 16 The F4 Western Freeway from Strathfield to Auburn was opened on 16 December 1982 by Premier Wran 14 17 However a lack of funding resulted in the Wran Labor government halting plans to construct the final stage between Mays Hill and Prospect in 1985 In December 1989 work to construct this stage began as a Build Own Operate Transfer project 18 In return for funding construction StateWide Roads the consortium awarded to build the stage was given permission to toll the section between James Ruse Drive and Silverwater Road as traffic volumes on this section were significantly higher than between Mays Hill Prospect and would allow a shorter toll period with lower tolls The consortium would also widen the section between James Ruse Drive and the newly constructed Homebush Bay Drive to six lanes The Mays Hill to Prospect section opened in May 1992 and an initial of a 1 50 toll was implemented The concession held by StateWide Roads ended on 15 February 2010 with operation of the motorway returned to the Roads and Traffic Authority and the toll removed At the time StateWide Roads was owned by Transurban 50 6 and Utilities Trust of Australia 21 5 19 The motorway is mostly three or four lanes wide in either direction and carries constant heavy traffic during daylight hours seven days a week Built as a four lane motorway it was widened to six lanes during 1998 to 2000 but this did little to ease the congestion citation needed Originally planned in the mid 1950s to start in the Sydney central business district 20 the eastern section was built only as far west as Pyrmont as part of the North West Expressway or F3 a freeway that would connect the Sydney and Newcastle central business districts This section is now part of the Western Distributor From there it was to have joined with the Western Expressway the F4 and the Southern Expressway the F6 in Glebe 21 At the western end of the Western Freeway as it was known in the late 1960s was to be routed through the Mitchell s Pass area through to Blaxland however due to protests and the fact that the historic Lennox Bridge was very close to the intended pathway it was decided to terminate the road at Russell Street Emu Plains until a solution could be later found This would have bypassed the Lapstone Hill area and avoided the sharp bends as the road enters Glenbrook In December 1989 the extension of the freeway from Russell Street west to the Great Western Highway in the vicinity of Governors Drive would bypass the narrow and winding section of the Great Western Highway including the historic Knapsack Bridge In June 1993 the new section of freeway between Emu Plains and Lapstone was opened to traffic 22 In 2013 the state government announced the intention to implement a Managed Motorway scheme on the M4 over the coming years to improve traffic flow Mechanisms to be used include improved Variable Message Signs Ramp metering signals dynamic speed and incident management and an upgrade of the Emergency Telephone System 23 The Western Motorway used to be part of the Sydney Metroad 4 until 2013 when the new M4 route designation was proclaimed along the whole motorway 24 The section between Church Street in Parramatta and the eastern end at Concord was widened as part of WestConnex works Construction commenced in March 2015 and in November 2015 it was announced that toll points would be reinstated on this section from 2017 to cover costs of the WestConnex project The toll was introduced on 15 August 2017 5 WestConnex M4 Edit WestConnex M4 Tunnel nbsp WestConnex M4 Tunnel western exit at HomebushOverviewRouteM4 Motorway nbsp StartHaberfield east EndHomebush west OperationWork begun2015ConstructedLeighton ContractorsSamsungJohn Holland GroupOpened13 July 2019 2019 07 13 OwnerWestConnexOperatorSydney Motorway CorporationToll 4 41 2020 dollars subject to indexing each way TechnicalLength5 6 kilometres 3 5 mi No of lanes3 in each directionOperating speed80 kilometres per hour 50 mph variable speed limit See also WestConnex Up until 2019 the eastern end of the M4 was at North Strathfield some 15 kilometres 9 3 mi from the Sydney central business district Over the years a number of proposals were made to extend the M4 east towards the city One plan in the 1990s involved extending the M4 eastwards by approximately 5 kilometres 3 1 mi so that it would subsequently end in Ashfield and be continuous with the City West Link Further planned upgrades to the City West Link would mean commuters going west out of the city could get to Parramatta without passing through traffic lights The government proposed a subsequent 7 billion plan for M4 East in July 2002 including three options 25 26 short tunnel option a 3 6 kilometre 2 2 mi tunnel between the M4 at Concord and City West Link and Parramatta Road at Haberfield long tunnel option a 6 5 kilometre 4 0 mi tunnel between the M4 at Concord and City West Link at Lilyfield slot option a sunken trench road similar to the Eastern Distributor between the M4 at Concord and Parramatta Road at HaberfieldAll three options would run below or parallel to Parramatta Road and or City West Link The short tunnel option was preferred for having lower costs both during construction and operation The long tunnel option was considered to have the potential to increase congestion on the approaches to Anzac Bridge causing eastbound queues to extend into the tunnels The slot option could be constructed at a similar cost to the short tunnel however it was considered to not provide the same level of traffic benefits as the short tunnel option Additionally the option would need to acquire additional properties and the construction period for this option would be longer 26 Between 2003 and 2004 the preferred short tunnel option for an eastern extension of the M4 Motorway was exhibited 26 Members of the government were divided over the M4 East proposal and ultimately did not proceed with it in early 2005 due to community opposition 25 27 The preferred option eventually formed the basis of the concept design for the M4 East project of the WestConnex In the month prior to the 2011 state election the NRMA released a report in which it recommended building a tunnel to connect the end of the M4 at Concord and the start of the City West Link relieving Parramatta Road of enough traffic to convert it into two lanes for slower moving local traffic two lanes of light rail and a cycleway 28 The report argued that this would allow Parramatta Road to be transformed with medium density housing shops and cafes and that the 10 04 billion in additional stamp duty and other revenues from this would pay for the 7 38 billion price tag of the project 29 In October 2012 the NSW Government announced their commitment to deliver the WestConnex project involving widening the existing M4 motorway as well as extending it east with a tunnel from North Strathfield to Taverners Hill The project also involved duplicating the M5 East tunnel and building a new tunnel linking the M4 and M5 motorways 30 In June 2015 the tender to design and build the WestConnex M4 Tunnel was awarded to Leighton Contractors Samsung and John Holland 31 Located 35 metres 115 ft beneath Parramatta Road the 5 5 kilometre 3 mi dual tunnel was funded through a 1 8 billion grant from the NSW Government and from the Australian Government a 1 5 billion grant and concessional loan of up to 2 billion plus user tolling 32 The M4 East opened to traffic on 13 July 2019 7 8 and tolls were levied on both the M4 East Tunnel 4 41 in 2020 33 comprising a flagfall and a change per distance travelled subject to indexing and the widening of the M4 between Parramatta and Homebush base of 4 21 each way subject to indexing Both tolls will continue until 2060 34 35 M4 amp M8 Extensions Edit Stage 3 of the WestConnex scheme saw a new motorway connection running from the end of the M4 at Haberfield to connect with the airport and the M8 Motorway formerly the New M5 at St Peters along with an interchange at Rozelle linking to the Anzac Bridge and Victoria Road Iron Cove Bridge This section would aim to reduce travel times between Western Sydney and Port Botany while removing heavy vehicles from surface streets in the Inner West 36 37 In September 2022 the government announced that the connection would be referred to as extensions of the M4 and M8 when the connection opened 9 The main tunnels between WestConnex M4 Tunnels at Haberfield and the M8 Tunnels at St Peters opened on 20 January 2023 with the M4 and M8 route markers extended to meet at Leichhardt where the connection to Rozelle Interchange would branch off from the main tunnels The connection to Rozelle Interchange and a further extension of the M4 and M8 route markers will open in late 2023 10 M4 Smart Motorway Project Edit In July 2019 the NSW government announced its M4 Smart Motorway Project 38 which involves widening the on and off ramps for the untolled section of the motorway between Lapstone and Mays Hill including the installation of overhead gantries with variable speed limit displays and traffic signals on the on ramps between Orchard Hills and Mays Hill for traffic metering during peak periods Toll EditSee also WestConnex Tolls The WestConnex section of the M4 between Church Street Parramatta and Haberfield are tolled by distance travelled as part of the WestConnex Toll points are located at entrances and exits along this section The toll charge consists of a flagfall a charge per kilometreTolls for heavy vehicles are triple of cars and motorcycles Toll prices increase by 4 or the consumer price index CPI every year whichever is greater until 2040 after which CPI will apply 39 This table is an excerpt from Toll roads in Australia Toll prices as of 1 July 2023 update 40 Toll road Class A toll prices a Class B toll prices a Toll increase 42 Toll concessionaire Expiry of toll concession 43 Flagfall Charge per km Toll capWestConnex M4 M5 East M8 1 57 0 5814 11 11 3 x of Class A prices Annually on 1 January by the greater of CPI or 4 until December 2040 then by CPI only Sydney Transport Partners 9 Tawreed Investments Limited 10 5 CPPIB 10 Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec CDPQ 20 5 Australian Super 50 Transurban 2060 a b Class A vehicles are typically cars and motorcycles Class B vehicles are all other vehicles including trucks and heavy vehicles 41 A toll point was previously introduced between James Ruse Drive and Silverwater Road in both directions until the toll was removed on 16 February 2010 when the M4 ownership was returned to the state government 44 Exits and interchanges EditLGALocationkm 1 miDestinationsNotesBlue MountainsGlenbrook00 0 nbsp Great Western Highway A32 Katoomba Lithgow BathurstWestern terminus of motorway and route M4 Road continues as Great Western HighwayBlue Mountains Penrith boundaryGlenbrook Emu Plains Leonay tripoint0 60 37Blue Mountains railway linePenrithEmu Plains Leonay boundary1 71 1 nbsp Russell Street A44 Emu Plains PenrithOffset dumbbell interchangeNepean River2 61 6Regentville BridgePenrithJamisontown Regentville boundary4 02 5Mulgoa Road Mulgoa PenrithDiamond interchangeGlenmore Park South Penrith Orchard Hills tripoint7 54 7 nbsp nbsp The Northern Road A9 Windsor Narellan Nepean HospitalSingle point urban interchangeOrchard Hills Claremont Meadows boundary12 77 9Kent Road Orchard Hills WerringtonHalf diamond interchange eastbound entrance and westbound exit onlySouth Creek13 28 2Bridge over the river no known name PenrithOrchard Hills St Clair St Marys tripoint13 78 5Mamre Road St Marys Badgerys CreekPartial cloverleaf interchangeErskine Park Colyton boundary17 210 7Roper Road north Mt Druitt Lethbridge ParkErskine Park Road south Erskine ParkPartial cloverleaf interchange eastbound and westbound entrance westbound exit onlyBlacktownEastern Creek Minchinbury boundary21 613 4Wallgrove Road Horsley Park Rooty HillDiamond interchange nbsp nbsp Westlink M7 M7 Dean Park Bella Vista Prestons Sydney Airport via M5 Light Horse Interchange modified four level stack interchange tolled entrance to and exit from M7Huntingwood Blacktown Prospect tripoint25 515 8Reservoir Road Pemulwuy Blacktown Sydney Motorsport Park Prospect ReservoirPartial diamond and partial cloverleaf interchangeProspect27 417 0Prospect Highway Pemulwuy Prospect Wet n Wild Prospect ReservoirPartial offset dumbbell interchangeParramattaGreystanes South Wentworthville boundary32 019 9 nbsp nbsp Cumberland Highway A28 Wahroonga Pennant Hills Liverpool Westmead and Children s hospitalsDiamond interchangeSouth Wentworthville Merrylands boundary33 720 9 nbsp Great Western Highway A44 Wentworthville Westmead Parramatta nbsp Coleman Street Westmead Merrylands Westmead and Children s hospitalsEastbound entrance ramp from Great Western Highway Westbound exit via Coleman StreetMerrylands34 621 5Burnett Street Merrylands ParramattaEastbound entrance and westbound exit onlyHolroyd35 922 3Western boundary of toll roadHolroyd Granville boundary36 222 5 nbsp Church Street Great Western Highway A44 north Parramatta nbsp Parramatta Road Great Western Highway A44 east Granville StrathfieldWoodville Road south VillawoodEastbound exit and westbound entrance onlyNo right turn from Church Street into westbound entrance rampClyde37 723 4James Ruse Drive north Rose Hill North Parramatta NorthmeadEastbound exit to the north only westbound entrance from the north only37 823 5James Ruse Drive Rose Hill North Parramatta Northmead to Great Western HighwayEastbound entrance and westbound exit onlyDuck River38 824 1Bridge over the river no known name CumberlandAuburn Lidcombe boundary40 425 1 nbsp Silverwater Road A6 Bankstown Heathcote Silverwater CarlingfordDiamond interchangeHaslams Creek41 225 6Bridge over the river no known name CumberlandLidcombe41 625 8Hill Road Lidcombe Wentworth Point Sydney Olympic ParkEastbound exit to the north eastbound and westbound entrances from the north onlyHomebush West43 326 9 nbsp Homebush Bay Drive A3 north Ryde Mona Vale Sydney Olympic Park nbsp Centenary Drive A3 south Homebush West Beverley Hills BlakehurstOffset diamond interchange hybrid westbound entrance from the north is via a loopStrathfieldHomebush44 027 3M4 Western Motorway eastern terminus M4 East western terminusM4 East Tunnel entrance exit45 028 0 nbsp Parramatta Road Great Western Highway A44 HomebushWestbound entrance onlyPowells Creek45 128 0Tunnel under creek bridge over the creek no known name StrathfieldNorth Strathfield45 528 3Sydney Street to Concord Road North Strathfield Strathfield ConcordSurface entrance and exit Eastbound exit to the north and south westbound entrance from the north onlyConcord Road North Strathfield Strathfield ConcordTunnel entrance and exit Eastbound entrance and westbound exit onlyNorth Strathfield Concord boundary45 928 5 nbsp Parramatta Road Great Western Highway A44 Burwood Five DockWestbound entrance from and eastbound exit to east onlyEastern terminus of surface level roadwayIron Cove Creek48 930 4Tunnel under the creekInner WestHaberfield49 330 6M4 East eastern terminus M4 M8 Link western terminus nbsp Wattle Street City West Link A44 Haberfield Rozelle SydneyWestbound entrance from and eastbound exit to the north onlyEastbound entrance from and westbound exit to the south onlyHaberfield Ashfield boundary49 630 8 nbsp Parramatta Road Great Western Highway A22 Leichhardt HaymarketWestbound entrance from and eastbound exit to the east onlyHawthorne Canal51 231 8Tunnel under the canalInner WestLeichhardt52 632 7 nbsp nbsp M8 Motorway M8 St Peters Sydney AirportM4 Motorway eastern terminus Road continues as M8 Motorway along M4 M8 Link1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 mi Incomplete access Tolled Route transitionSee also Edit nbsp Australian Roads portal Freeways in Australia Freeways in Sydney Metroad 4References Edit a b Google 22 January 2023 M4 Motorway Map Google Maps Google Retrieved 22 January 2023 Western Motorway M4 Ozroads the Australian Roads Website Retrieved on 29 August 2008 self published source Historic Photos Ozroads the Australian Roads Website Retrieved on 29 August 2008 self published source M4 Photos Today Ozroads the Australian Roads Website Retrieved on 29 August 2008 a b c M4 Widening WestConnex WestConnex Archived from the original on 13 May 2020 Retrieved 18 August 2017 Alpha Numeric Implementation Factsheet Roads and Maritime Services Retrieved 28 May 2013 a b WestConnex NSW Government Archived from the original on 10 July 2019 Retrieved 10 July 2019 a b New M4 tunnels to open this weekend WestConnex 10 July 2019 Retrieved 2 July 2020 a b M4 M5 link to be renamed NSW Government 13 September 2022 a b WestConnex nears completion with new 7 5km tunnel opening tomorrow under Sydney s inner west ABC News 19 January 2023 Retrieved 20 January 2023 Map of the new extensions of the M4 and M8 PDF WestConnex Retrieved 22 January 2023 New M4 tolls WestConnex Archived from the original on 7 April 2020 Retrieved 19 June 2020 WestConnex M4 WestConnex Retrieved 22 January 2023 a b JOURNAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MAIN ROADS NEW SOUTH WALES PDF Main Roads Sydney OpenGov NSW 48 1 3 6 March 1983 Lucy Richard 1979 Wran s our man The 1978 NSW state election Politics 14 1 89 96 doi 10 1080 00323267908401697 Retrieved 5 May 2020 Black John 2006 Bramston Troy ed Transport pp 134 142 ISBN 1862876053 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Jones Cathy 31 January 2017 M4 Motorway History Strathfield Heritage Retrieved 5 May 2020 Department of Main Roads Annual Report 1988 89 PDF OpenGov NSW Department of Main Roads p 6 31 Retrieved 20 March 2020 Li Zheng Hensher David September 2010 Toll Roads in Australia An Overview of Characteristics and Accuracy of Demand Forecasts Transport Reviews 30 5 541 569 doi 10 1080 01441640903211173 S2CID 153484704 Retrieved 23 October 2021 Western Motorway M4 Construction Ozroads the Australian Roads Website Retrieved on 29 August 2008 self published source Torr Bradley The M4 Motorway a history and exit guide Geocities Archived from the original on 24 October 2009 Retrieved 29 August 2008 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link self published source Knapsack Viaduct Lapstone New South Wales Heritage Database Office of Environment amp Heritage Retrieved 2 June 2018 Benefits Features and Tools of a Managed Motorway Roads and Traffic Authority Retrieved on 24 October 2013 M4 Motorway Website Statewide Roads Retrieved 29 August 2008 a b Goodsir Darren 18 June 2004 Carr s rivals fume in clash over M4 East The Sydney Morning Herald a b c M4 East Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1A Part 1 WestConnex September 2015 p 4 1 to 4 3 4 12 to 4 13 Retrieved 21 October 2020 M4 East and Marrickville Tunnel Marrickville Greens 4 May 2009 Retrieved 21 October 2020 Boulevard of dreams comes with a hidden cost The Sydney Morning Herald 14 February 2011 Retrieved 15 February 2011 New plan to transform Sydney s West Press release NRMA Archived from the original on 25 February 2011 Retrieved 15 February 2011 WestConnext Green Light Press release WestConnex Government of New South Wales 3 October 2012 Archived from the original on 25 October 2013 Retrieved 24 October 2013 Leighton team scoops 2 7bn Sydney motorway Construction Index 8 June 2015 Retrieved 4 January 2020 M4 East Project Overview PDF WestConnex NSW Government and Australian Government September 2015 Archived from the original PDF on 1 April 2019 Retrieved 5 May 2020 Toll calculator Using toll roads Linkt Transurban Limited 2020 Retrieved 5 May 2020 WestConnex M5 Project Deed Schedules PDF Roads amp Maritime Services Government of New South Wales 2015 West Michael 28 February 2018 WestConnex when four tollroads become ten Michael West Media Retrieved 5 May 2020 Infrastructure New South Wales 2012 First things first the state infrastructure strategy 2012 2032 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 13 August 2015 Retrieved 6 August 2015 M4 M5 Link Tunnels WestConnex Retrieved 2 July 2020 Roads and Maritime Services N S W M4 Smart Motorway project Roads and Maritime Services Retrieved 8 August 2020 Tolling WestConnex Retrieved 2 July 2020 Toll costs by road NSW Government 1 January 2023 Retrieved 9 August 2023 What is my vehicle class Linkt Retrieved 5 November 2020 When and how do toll prices increase Linkt Retrieved 5 November 2020 Road tolling in New South Wales PDF New South Wales Parliament Portfolio Committee No 2 Health and Community Services October 2017 Retrieved 30 October 2020 Sydney s M4 Toll to be abolished Sydney Morning Herald 14 February 2010 External links EditTimelapse footage of the whole M4 Motorway on YouTube nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to M4 Western Motorway O Sullivan Matt Saulwick Jacob 2016 Sydney 2026 Chapter 1 The future of Sydney roads and rail The Commute The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M4 Motorway Sydney amp oldid 1176694554, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.