Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan

Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan (WSIP) is an A$4.1 billion 10-year road investment program in Western Sydney, New South Wales, jointly funded by the federal government ($3.3 billion) and the New South Wales state government.[1][2][3] Originally introduced in April 2014 as a $3.5 billion program consisting of key road upgrade projects in Western Sydney, particularly in the south west surrounding the future Western Sydney Airport, the program scope was later expanded and funding was increased to $4.1 billion.[4] The funding is now split among:[3]

  • The Northern Road Upgrade - $1.6 billion
  • Bringelly Road upgrade - $500 million
  • M12 Motorway - $1.75 billion
  • Werrington Arterial Road - $50 million
  • Glenbrook Intersection at Ross Street - $5.6 million
  • Local Roads Package - $200 million

The plan was to take place over 10 years, starting with the Bringelly Road upgrade which commenced construction in January 2015.[5] As of 2023, the only remaining component that is yet to be completed is the M12 Motorway, which is under construction and set to be completed prior to the completion of the new airport in 2026.[6]

Projects

The Northern Road upgrade

The Northern Road looking south at Bringelly Road interchange (stage 2)

$1.6 billion of the infrastructure plan was used to fund the upgrade of 35 km (21.7 mi) of The Northern Road between The Old Northern Road at Narellan and Jamison Road at South Penrith, including road widening to a minimum of four lanes. Originally made up of four stages, the project was delivered in six stages, numbered by chronological order of construction commencement.[7]

Stage Section Construction dates Notes
Start End
Stage 1 between The Old Northern Road at Narellan and Peter Brock Drive at Oran Park February 2016 April 2018[8]
Stage 2 between Peter Brock Drive and Mersey Road at Bringelly mid 2017[9] December 2020[10] Includes realignment of The Northern Road and an underpass interchange at Bringelly Road
New alignment and Bringelly Road interchange opened on 16 July 2020[11]
Stage 3 between Glenmore Parkway at Glenmore Park and Jamison Road at South Penrith mid 2017[12] May 2021[13][14]
Stage 4 between Mersey Road and Eaton Road at Luddenham November 2018[15] 11 September 2020[16] Involves realignment of The Northern Road around the airport site
New alignment between Mersey Road and Eaton Road opened to traffic on 24 April 2020, with one lane per direction.[17][18]
Stage 5 between Littlefields Road at Luddenham and Glenmore Parkway February 2019 December 2021[13][14] Completed ahead of schedule (expected completion 2022)[19]
Stage 6 between Eaton Road and Littlefields Road at Luddenham mid 2019[20] March 2021[13][14] Involves realignment of The Northern Road to bypass the Luddenham town centre
New alignment between Elizabeth Drive and Eaton Road including the Luddenham bypass opened to traffic on 13 December 2020[21]

The stages arranged from north to south are stages 3, 5, 6, 4, 2 and 1. Some sections of Stages 4 to 6 that were critical to the delivery of the Western Sydney Airport were opened in stages from 2020.[3][6]

Bringelly Road upgrade

Bringelly Road stage 2 section

$509 million of the plan was used on the upgrade of the 10 km (6.2 mi) Bringelly Road, which was delivered in two stages between Camden Valley Way at Leppington and The Northern Road at Bringelly. The upgrade works included widening of the road with a central median, and implementing a speed limit of 80 km/h along the road.[22] A new underpass with The Northern Road was also constructed as part of The Northern Road upgrade, opened in July 2020.[11]

The first stage between Camden Valley Way and King Street at Rossmore, commenced construction in January 2015 and opened to traffic in December 2018.[5][23][24] The second stage between King Street and The Northern Road was completed in December 2020.[10]

M12 Motorway

Further information: M12 Motorway (Sydney)

The plan includes the 16 km (9.9 mi) M12 Motorway, which will provide direct access between the Western Sydney Airport and Sydney's motorway network at M7 motorway. The federal government has committed $1.4 billion towards the delivery of the $1.75 billion motorway. Construction commenced in August 2022 and completed in 2026 prior to the opening of the airport.[3][6]

Werrington Arterial Road

The Werrington Arterial Road was the first major project of the infrastructure plan to be completed, involving the upgrade of Gipps Street between Great Western Highway and M4 Western Motorway in Werrington. Upgrade works including road widening, new entry and exit ramps to the M4, and intersection upgrades. The federal government contributed 50 per cent of the cost of the $52 million upgrade.[3] Construction commenced in March 2015 and was completed in May 2017.[25][5]

Glenbrook Intersection at Ross Street

The intersection of Great Western Highway and Ross Street at Glenbrook was upgraded and completed in October 2018.[2] Works include new traffic lights at the intersection with pedestrian crossings, and closing access to the Great Western Highway from Hare Street (south), but maintaining access for emergency vehicles.[26] The federal government funded $2.5 million towards the $5.6 million project.[3]

Local Roads Package

The federal government is investing $200 million in a Local Roads Package, a competitive rounds-based program which allows Western Sydney councils to deliver improved road connections that support the infrastructure plan.[2] As of April 2019, round 1 projects are complete and round 2 projects underway or complete, and project proposals for Round 3 projects are currently under assessment.[3] Eligible councils include Liverpool, Camden, Wollondilly, Campbelltown, Penrith, Fairfield and Blacktown councils.[27] An example of the projects was the intersection upgrade of Cumberland Highway at Hamilton Road, St Johns Road and John Street, which was completed under the Local Roads Package after Fairfield Council was granted $5.8 million over two years.

References

  1. ^ "Delivering the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan". (Federal) Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan". (Federal) Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Milestones - Western Sydney's infrastructure plan". Roads and Maritime Services. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan Report Card - January to March 2015" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services. Australian and New South Wales governments. 10 June 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan Report Card - 1 July 2017 – 30 June 2018" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services. Australian and New South Wales governments. June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  7. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade, The Old Northern Road to Peter Brock Drive". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  9. ^ "The Northern Road and Bringelly Road upgrades". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b "The Northern Road and Bringelly Road upgrade stage 2 – project nearing completion" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Opening of the Bringelly Road interchange and new section of The Northern Road between Belmore Road and Thames Road, Bringelly from Thursday 16 July 2020" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  12. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade, Glenmore Parkway to Jamison Road". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "$1.6 billion Northern Road Upgrade in Western Sydney Complete". Transport for NSW. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "The Northern Road upgrade – completed 2021" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Waterways. Transport for NSW. December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Work on The Northern Road upgrade drives ahead". Roads and Maritime Services. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019.
  16. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade - Mersey Road to Eaton Road" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. 11 September 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  17. ^ "New The Northern Road opening between Mersey Road and Eaton Road, Luddenham" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Drivers get moving on new section of Northern Road". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  19. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade - Between Mersey Road, Bringelly and Glenmore Parkway, Glenmore Park - Project update" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services. August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  20. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019.
  21. ^ "The Northern Road upgrade - Eaton Road to Elizabeth Drive (bypass of Luddenham town centre)" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. 13 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Bringelly Road upgrade". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  23. ^ "First stage of Bringelly Road Upgrade Now Open". (Federal) Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure. 19 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Bringelly Road upgrade stage 1 – complete - Community update" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services. November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Werrington Arterial Road - complete". Roads and Maritime Services. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Glenbrook intersection upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan – Local Roads Package". Roads and Maritime Services. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.