The design and construction contract has been awarded for the M6 Stage 1, which will connect President Avenue at Kogarah with the WestConnex M8 at Arncliffe via four kilometre twin tunnels.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said Transport for NSW awarded the $2.52 billion contract to CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors and UGL, in a joint venture with Ghella, which was one of three finalists for the tender.
“The M6 Stage 1 project will create more than 5,000 jobs, with construction expected to start in early 2022,” Mr Constance said.
“We are returning local roads to the local community, by allowing drivers to bypass up to 23 sets of traffic lights on the Princes Highway and reducing traffic on General Holmes Drive by 10,000 vehicles every day.”
“The M6 Stage 1 is expected to see a 40 per cent reduction in trucks on the Princes Highway north of President Avenue, which will be great news for the local community and local commuters.”
Member for Miranda Eleni Petinos said: “We’ll deliver a new intersection at President Avenue and an upgrade of the busy President Avenue and Princes Highway intersection to improve capacity and network integration.”
Member for Oatley Mark Coure said: “Work is already underway on a $28 million investment in local recreational facilities. Around 200 jobs have been created through these upgrades which are creating great local spots for our local communities.”
Member for Cronulla Mark Speakman said: “The NSW Government is continuing to look to the future of the M6, with investigation and planning work well under way on a future Stage 2.”
Member for Heathcote Lee Evans said: “The M6 Stage 1 will expand as Sydney’s south and the Illawarra grow into the future. It will start with two lanes in each direction but will be built for three.”
Expected travel time savings (when used with other motorway connections):
- Kogarah to ANZAC Bridge – up to 15 minutes.
- Miranda to Macquarie Park – up to 15 minutes.
- Kogarah to south Sydney – up to 13 minutes.
- Taren Point to Mascot – up to 12 minutes.
- Kogarah to Sydney CBD – up to 8 minutes.
Around five kilometres of shared cycling and pedestrian pathways, connecting Bestic Street at Brighton Le Sands to O’Connell Street at Kogarah (including a new bridge over President Avenue) are also part of the project.
The M6 Stage 1 is expected to open to traffic in 2025.
Background:
Previously known as the F6 Extension, there’s been a reservation for this motorway corridor since 1951. When first planned, land was reserved for an above-ground motorway. The new M6 Stage 1 will be mainly underground along its four kilometre route.
Consultation on this design of the project has been happening since 2017, and after the M6 Stage 1 was formally announced in 2018, the Environmental Impact Statement was placed on exhibition between November and December that year. Planning approval was secured in December 2019.
Requests for tenders to build the motorway were made in May 2020 with work starting on the community recreational facilities in August 2020.
Community facilities:
The NSW Government has invested $28 million into open space around the future M6 Stage 1 motorway for the local community.
At Brighton Memorial Playing Fields, the improvements include:
- An upgraded full size synthetic field and a new mid-sized grass field.
- A new play area, memorial, lawn area, amenities building and lighting.
- Increased car parking capacity.
The improvements also include a new pedestrian bridge over Muddy Creek, upgrades to West Botany Street Bridge and a relocated car park with increased capacity at West Botany Street.