Work will start soon to remove the infamous traffic chokepoint at the M5 Motorway between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway.
The Albanese and Minns governments have each committed $190 million towards this project.
This morning acting premier Ryan Park, minister for roads Jenny Aitchison, federal minister for infrastructure Catherine King, federal member for Hughes David Moncrieff and federal member for Werriwa Anne Stanley attended a contract signing regarding the M5 Motorway and Georges River bridge and other works.
The project includes a new three lane toll-free bridge over the Georges River and train lines near Liverpool, improving the connections between the M5 Motorway, Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway.
The upgrade includes the removal of the weave on the M5 Motorway between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway to improve safety and traffic flow for road users entering and exiting the M5 Motorway.
The project will also include a new underpass at Moorebank Avenue, connecting the M5 Motorway westbound to the Hume Highway, and upgrade the intersection between the M5 Motorway and Moorebank Avenue.
The existing bridge over the Georges River, which connects the M5 Motorway to the Hume Highway and Moorebank Avenue, sees more than 2,500 trucks a day move from the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Precinct onto the Sydney motorway network.
Afternoon peak sees traffic bank up, as cars and trucks entering the motorway westbound at Moorebank Avenue attempt to merge with traffic already on the motorway that is looking to exit at the Hume Highway. Truck numbers on the interchange are also expected to increase as new sections of the expansive Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Precinct come online.
“This upgrade will ensure the conga-line of trucks coming in and out of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Precinct can flow more freely, keeping goods moving to their destinations, while delivering real benefits for commuters during peak periods,’’ says infrastructure minister Catherine King.
“Western Sydney is growing quickly and the Albanese Government is investing over $19 billion to deliver the transport infrastructure Western Sydney needs.”
Werriwa MP Anne Stanley said the improvement in traffic flow will save commuters time and stress.
“I look forward to the completion of this long awaited and necessary section of road,’’ she said.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said today’s contract signing was a major milestone.
“It brings us one step closer to getting shovels in the ground on the infrastructure Western Sydney needs.
“This upgrade will slash congestion and create a safer driving environment for the thousands of motorists who use this critical interchange every day,’’ she said.
“The contract is signed, the builders are ready, and soon we’ll be improving connections across our region. The extra lanes will remove the need for around 3,900 vehicles per day to weave between lanes, making journeys safer and faster for families and freight operators alike.’’
Increasing the number of weaves from to two to four only increases the chances of collisions. Wait and see if this is for the better I suppose.
These announced works are overdue and should already be in place. Not for the Intermodal operations; but for the daily worker/commuter use of the Bridge crossings of the Georges River. The existing Moorebank Bridge is the southern most East-West route for south-west Sydney traffic. The next such east-west route is 32 kilometres south – the Appin Road.
The perverted planning process for the Project Approvals of the Corrigan/Albanese Moorebank Intermodal have dumped 15,000 DAILY semi-trailer/trucks/vans TRIPS a DAY into Moorebank.
Other works announced – Cambridge Avenue and Fifteenth Ave and the new planned short-cut route at the back of existing housing from the Hume Highway to Hoxton Park Road – are to cost over $5 billion to “make it happen” for Moorebank.