This Saturday morning, March 14, the M12 Motorway – the driveway to Western Sydney International Airport, will open to traffic after four years of construction.
The 16-kilometre section of the M12 connects Elizabeth Drive in the east to The Northern Road in the west, delivering an intersection-free, 100 km/h run straight to the airport precinct.
It will serve as the key gateway to the new airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which will become a thriving innovation precinct and create thousands of jobs for the region.
The M12 is designed to seamlessly integrate with the wider road network, improving connectivity for motorists and freight operators across Sydney.
The final component, the M7/M12 Interchange at Cecil Hills, remains on track to open mid-year, delivering a motorway-to-motorway and intersection-free connection between the M12 and the M7.
The $2.1 billion project is funded with a $1.63 billion investment from the Federal Government and a $408 million investment from the NSW Government.
It is expected to take around 25,000 vehicles a day off local roads, taking pressure off suburban streets and improving travel times and reliability across the region.
M12 signage, line-marking and lane guidance have been tested across key connections, with interactive driver animations available online so drivers can familiarise themselves with the route before opening.
Project highlights include:
- Around 181,933 cubic metres of concrete used, equivalent to 73 Olympic pools
- 5,217,117 hours worked
- 10,000 people employed, including 4,900 local workers
- Over 2.6 million cubic metres of earthworks completed, equivalent to 1,064 Olympic pools
- Construction of 17 bridges
- 461 bridge piles installed
- 637 bridge girders installed
- Over 1,5 million shrubs and grasses planted
- 18,500 trees planted
- 2,320 bridge lineal metres delivered
“As a direct gateway to Western Sydney International Airport, this brand new toll-free motorway is critical to the future of this growing region of NSW,’’ said Premier Chris Minns at a media event this morning ahead of Saturday’s opening of the M12 to traffic.
“Communities in Western Sydney deserve this world-class infrastructure which will ease pressure on local roads, cut travel times and improve connectivity with the rest of Sydney’s road network.
“From Saturday, thousands of motorists will have the chance to use this new motorway for the very first time to more quickly and easily get to where they need to go.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King also attended this morning’s media event.
“Sydney’s new airport will connect Western Sydney to the world, and the M12 will play a critical role getting passengers to the terminal, and freight to the tarmac,’’ Ms King said.
