The toll-free M12 Motorway has passed a major construction milestone, with over a third of construction completed and groundwork underway on 14 of 17 bridges across the project.
The M12, which was recommended as a high priority project by Infrastructure Australia, forms part of a wider Western Sydney roads upgrade as the NSW Government gets on with the job of delivering the critical roads the community needs.
Co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, the motorway will link the new Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek to the wider Sydney motorway network, Elizabeth Drive and the Northern Road and open up a key future jobs zone for Sydney.
The next stage of work will focus on completing the majority of earthworks and pouring 52,000 tonnes of concrete.
Around 2000 locals from Liverpool and Penrith and 526 young people (under 25), are employed on the delivery of this project, many of who will have opportunities to keep working in the area as upgrades like Elizabeth Drive get underway.
The budget has prioritised new spending on vital arterial roads across Western Sydney, with a wider focus than the mega infrastructure projects and toll roads of the former government.
The Minns Labor Government is committed to infrastructure investment, with $29.1 billion to be spent over the coming 4 years.
Overall, the NSW Government will invest $2.4 billion in Western Sydney as a part of the Connecting Sydney Roads program to accommodate population and employment growth.
Almost $430 million is earmarked to be spent in 2023–24 alone.
Projects funded across Western Sydney will help ease traffic flow and improve journey times including to and from work, or the school run by fixing our local roads.
Metropolitan Roads projects by area:
Western Sydney Airport precinct
- $200 million for Elizabeth Drive safety initiatives and corridor enabling works
- $50 million for the Fifteenth Avenue Transit Corridor linking Bradfield and the Western Sydney International Airport to Liverpool
- $106 million over 4 years towards the M7–M12 Integration Project: Delivering the M7–M12 Interchange, the Elizabeth Drive Connection to the M12 and the Westlink M7 Widening (State and Federal funded).
South-West Sydney
- $45.4 million in 2023–24 for the ongoing delivery of Spring Farm Parkway Stage 1 and to continue planning for Spring Farm Parkway Stage 2 corridor
- $3.4 million in 2023–24 for Appin Road Improvements (Federal funded)
- $1 million in 2023–24 to continue planning for the Picton Bypass corridor
- $1.5 million for school crossings across Camden.
Western Sydney (Penrith and surrounds)
- $54 million in 2023–24 towards Mulgoa Road, Stages 1, 2 and 5
- $7.6 million in 2023–24 for Mamre Road, M4 Motorway to Erskine Park Road.
North-West Sydney
- $100 million for Pitt Town bypass
- $15 million for The Driftway roundabout, Londonderry, upgraded with improved flood resilience as a key access road to New Richmond Bridge which will be a $500 million upgrade when complete
- $100 million over 4 years for Bells Line of Road Safety Upgrades.
NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said:
“The 2023–24 NSW Budget has delivered on our commitments to Western Sydney.
“We are working on building and upgrading the roads now before the next phase of growth in this area and ahead of the first flights touching down at Western Sydney Airport.
“The M12 is an important part of the infrastructure strategy to ensure Western Sydney International has effective transport links from day one, so progress on bridge building is a very positive project milestone.
“This project is creating more jobs in Western Sydney for workers in Western Sydney west and will help drive economic opportunities across this region.”
Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said:
“The NSW Government has committed to delivering for Western Sydney with the infrastructure investment in the 2023–24 NSW Budget.
“By committing to upgrades at Elizabeth Drive, Spring Farm Parkway and Fifteenth Avenue, the NSW Government is going to deliver a real benefit to the community in Leppington that will improve travel time and allow people to get to work, school and through the day in a much more efficient manner.”
Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said:
“Western Sydney is our city’s population basket with over 2.5 million people living here.
“It’s critical that we have the investment in our roads to improve access, liveability for our community in Penrith.
“The works on the Northern Road and Elizabeth Drive and will improve access for motorists and public transport users alike in our community.”