Jump to content

M4 Motorway (Sydney)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 163.116.192.115 (talk) at 12:04, 24 October 2022 (→‎External links: time lapse footage). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Not to be confused with Great Western Highway.

M4 Motorway

Western Motorway / Western Freeway

New South Wales
Aerial view looking east in December 2010; the former location of the toll plaza can be seen
General information
TypeMotorway
Length50.2 km (31 mi)[1]
Opened1971–1993 (Glenbrook–Strathfield)
2019 (Strathfield–Haberfield)
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 City West Link
Haberfield, Sydney
 
West end Great Western Highway
Glenbrook, Sydney
Location(s)
Major suburbs / townsPenrith, Prospect, Mays Hill, Granville, Clyde, Auburn, Homebush, Concord
Highway system

The M4 Motorway is a 50.2-kilometre-long (31.2 mi)[1] dual carriageway partially tolled motorway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia that is designated as the M4 route. 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).

The M4 route number comprises two connected parts:

  • The original section completed between 1971 and 1993 is titled M4 Western Motorway, formerly known as F4 Western Freeway.[2][3][4] It spans between Concord in the east, to Glenbrook in the west, where it continues as the Great Western Highway as the A32. The section between Church Street in Parramatta to Concord was widened and tolled as part of WestConnex since 2017.[5]
  • An eastern 5.6-kilometre (3.5 mi) tunnel extension of the M4 from Homebush to Haberfield, known as the M4 East or New M4 Tunnels, was completed as part of WestConnex and opened to traffic on 13 July 2019.[6][7][8] The M4 East will be extended even further to Rozelle in 2023.[9] This section (including the extension to Rozelle) is also tolled as part of WestConnex.

Approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi) of the motorway-grade road is not tolled, being that section of the road between Merrylands and Glenbrook. The WestConnex section between Parramatta and Haberfield (and Rozelle from 2023), known as WestConnex M4 or New M4, is tolled as part of WestConnex.[5][10]

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

Sections

Alignment

Comparison of historical, current and proposed alignments for principal road between Sydney CBD and the Nepean River

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.

M4 Western Motorway

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

The M4 Western Motorway was originally constructed in several stages as the F4 Western Freeway between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s, with the first section between Emu Plains and South Penrith over the Nepean River opened in 1971. 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.[11][12] The F4 Western Freeway from Strathfield to Auburn was opened on 16 December 1982 by Premier Wran.[13] 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.[14] 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%).[15]

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,[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19]

The M4 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.[20]

The section between Church Street in Parramatta and the eastern end at Concord was widened as part of stage 1 of WestConnex works. Construction commenced in March 2015. In November 2015, it was announced that toll points would be reinstated on this section from 2017 to cover costs of the WestConnex project (upgrading and M4 East). The toll was introduced on 15 August 2017.[5]

M4 East

M4 East Tunnel
M4 East 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)
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:[21][22]

  • 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.[22]

Between 2003 and 2004, the preferred short tunnel option for M4 East was exhibited.[22] 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.[21][23] 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.[24] 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.[25]

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.[26]

In June 2015, the tender to design and build the M4 East was awarded to Leighton Contractors, Samsung and John Holland.[27] 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.[28] 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,[29] 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.[30][31]

M4–M8 extensions

Stage 3 of the WestConnex scheme will see 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, currently under construction, aims to reduce travel times between Western Sydney and Port Botany while removing heavy vehicles from surface streets in the Inner West. This section is due to open to traffic in 2023.[32][33] In September 2022, the government announced that the connection will be referred to as extensions of the M4 and M8 when the connection opens. This would mean that the M4 (and also M8) route marker will be extended to the Rozelle Interchange.[9]

M4 Smart Motorway Project

In July 2019, the NSW government announced its M4 Smart Motorway Project[34] 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

See 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:

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.[35]

This table is an excerpt from Toll roads in Australia
Toll prices as of 1 January 2024[36]
Toll road Class A toll prices[a] Class B toll prices[a] Toll increase[38] Toll concessionaire Expiry of toll concession[39]
Flagfall Charge per km Toll cap


  1. ^ a b Class A vehicles are typically cars and motorcycles; Class B vehicles are all other vehicles including trucks and heavy vehicles[37]

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.[40]

Exits and interchanges

LGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Blue MountainsGlenbrook00.0 Great Western Highway (A32) – Katoomba, Lithgow, Bathurst M4 Western Motorway western terminus;
Road continues as Great Western Highway (A32)
Blue Mountains line0.60.37Railway line runs on an overhead bridge. Bridge name unknown.
PenrithLeonay1.71.1 Russell Street (A44) – Emu Plains, Penrith, Parramatta, SydneyOffset dumbbell interchange
Nepean River2.61.6Regentville Bridge
PenrithJamisontown4.02.5Mulgoa Road – Mulgoa, Glenmore Park, Penrith, RichmondDiamond interchange
Glenmore Park7.54.7 The Northern Road (A9)  – Kingswood, Windsor, Narellan, Campbelltown, Nepean HospitalSingle-point urban interchange
Claremont Meadows12.77.9Kent Road – Orchard Hills, WerringtonHalf-diamond interchange, eastbound entrance and westbound exit only
South Creek13.28.2Bridge over the creek. Bridge name unknown.
PenrithSt Clair13.78.5Mamre Road – Erskine Park, Badgerys Creek, St Marys, Marsden ParkPartial cloverleaf interchange
Erskine Park17.210.7Roper Road (north) – Mt Druitt, Lethbridge Park
Erskine Park Road (south) – Erskine Park		Partial cloverleaf interchange, eastbound entrance and westbound exit only
BlacktownEastern Creek21.613.4Wallgrove Road – Eastern Creek, Horsley Park, Rooty Hill, PlumptonDiamond interchange
Westlink M7 (M7 north) – Dean Park, Bella Vista, Newcastle
Westlink M7 (M7 south) – Prestons, Goulburn, Sydney Airport (via M5)		Light Horse Interchange: modified four-level stack interchange; tolled entrance to and exit from M7
Blacktown25.515.8Reservoir Road – Pemulwuy, Blacktown, Sydney Motorsport Park, Wet'n'Wild, Prospect ReservoirPartial diamond and partial cloverleaf interchange
Prospect27.417.0Prospect Highway – Pemulwuy, Wetherill Park, Prospect, Seven Hills, Wet'n'Wild, Prospect ReservoirPartial offset dumbbell interchange
ParramattaSouth Wentworthville32.019.9 Cumberland Highway (A28 north) – North Parramatta, Pennant Hills, Wahroonga, Newcastle, Westmead and Children's hospitals
Cumberland Highway (A28 south) – Smithfield, Liverpool, Goulburn		Diamond interchange
Merrylands33.720.9 Great Western Highway (A44 west) – Wentworthville, Westmead, Westmead and Children's hospitals
Great Western Highway (A44 east) – Parramatta
Coleman Street (north) – Wentworthville, Westmead, Westmead and Children's hospitals
Coleman Street (south) – Merrylands		Eastbound entrance ramp from Great Western Highway;
Westbound exit via Coleman Street to the north and south
34.621.5Burnett Street – Merrylands, ParramattaEastbound entrance and westbound exit only
Granville36.222.5Western boundary of toll road
Church Street (Great Western Highway) (A44 north) – Parramatta
Church Street (Great Western Highway) (A44 east) – Granville, Strathfield
Woodville Road (south) – Villawood		Eastbound exit to Great Western Highway / Church Street, north and south; westbound entrance from Woodville Road, south only
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. Bridge name unknown.
CumberlandLidcombe40.425.1 Silverwater Road (A6) – Bankstown, Heathcote, Silverwater, CarlingfordDiamond interchange
Haslams Creek41.225.6Bridge over the creek. Bridge name unknown.
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) – Rhodes, Ryde, Mona Vale, Sydney Olympic Park
Centenary Drive (A3 south) – Homebush West, Beverley Hills, Hurstville, Blakehurst, Sydney Airport		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)  – Flemington, Parramatta, Strathfield, BurwoodWestbound entrance only
Powells Creek45.128.0Tunnel under the creek; bridge over the creek. Bridge name unknown.
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
45.928.5 Parramatta Road (Great Western Highway) (A44) – Burwood, Five DockWestbound entrance and eastbound exit from/to east only; termination of surface-level roadway
Inner WestHaberfield49.230.6M4 East Tunnel entrance/exit; eastern boundary of toll road
Wattle Street (City West Link) (A4) – Haberfield, Rozelle, Anzac BridgeTunnel entrance and exit:
M4 East terminus; westbound entrance and eastbound exit from/to the north only
50.231.2 Parramatta Road (Great Western Highway) (A22)  – Sydney, Sydney Airport (via A36)Tunnel entrance and exit:
M4 East terminus; westbound entrance and eastbound exit from/to the east only
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 15–17 Great Western Hwy, Glenbrook NSW 2773 to 150 Parramatta Road, Ashfield NSW 2131 (Map). Google Maps. 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  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 "M4 Widening | WestConnex". 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. Archived 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. ^ "New M4 tolls". WestConnex. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Black, John (2006). Bramston, Troy (ed.). Transport (illustrated ed.). Federation Press. pp. 134–142. ISBN 1862876053. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Jones, Cathy (31 January 2017). "M4 Motorway History". Strathfield Heritage. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Department of Main Roads Annual Report 1988-89" (PDF). OpenGov NSW. Department of Main Roads. p. 6, 31. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Western Motorway (M4) Construction, Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website. Retrieved on 29 August 2008.[self-published source]
  17. ^ Torr, Bradley. "The M4 Motorway – a history and exit guide". 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]
  18. ^ "Knapsack Viaduct, Lapstone". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  19. ^ Benefits, Features and Tools of a Managed Motorway – Roads and Traffic Authority. Retrieved on 24 October 2013.
  20. ^ "M4 Motorway Website". Statewide Roads. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  21. ^ a b Goodsir, Darren (18 June 2004). "Carr's rivals fume in clash over M4 East". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "M4 East and Marrickville Tunnel". Marrickville Greens. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Boulevard of dreams comes with a hidden cost". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  25. ^ "New plan to transform Sydney's West" (Press release). NRMA. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Leighton team scoops $2.7bn Sydney motorway". Construction Index. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "Toll calculator". Using toll roads. Linkt: Transurban Limited. 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  30. ^ "WestConnex M5 Project Deed Schedules" (PDF). Roads & Maritime Services. Government of New South Wales. 2015.
  31. ^ West, Michael (28 February 2018). "WestConnex: when four tollroads become ten". Michael West Media. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ "M4-M5 Link Tunnels". WestConnex. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  34. ^ Roads and Maritime Services, N. S. W. "M4 Smart Motorway project". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Tolling". WestConnex. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  36. ^ "Toll costs by road". NSW Government. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  37. ^ "What is my vehicle class?". Linkt. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  38. ^ "When and how do toll prices increase". Linkt. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  39. ^ "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.
  40. ^ "Sydney's M4 Toll to be abolished". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2010.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to M4 Western Motorway.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=M4_Motorway_(Sydney)&oldid=1117952485"