Work is well under way on the new toll-free M12 Motorway, with local media given a sneak peek last week of construction progress.
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 M12 will be the gateway to Australia for overseas visitors, so we are creating a space with welcoming landscaping and connections to Indigenous culture with the Great Emu in the Sky Sculpture in clear view as visitors head out of the airport,’’ said the Member for Leppington, Nathan Hagarty, after attending the media event.
“We’re also future proofing the area by upgrading the local roads so the local community, as well as workers, have easy access to and from the Airport.”
The $2 billion joint Federal and NSW Government project is currently on time and on budget to open ahead of the new Western Sydney International Airport in 2026.
The 16-kilometre M12 will feature a total of 17 bridges across the project, seven in the West section and 10 in the central section.
Construction snapshot for West and Central sections:
- Over 230,000 trees, shrubs and grasses planted
- 637 girders installed
- 461 piles installed
- All mainline pavement complete
- 70,000m3 final layer of concrete poured
- Another 30,000m3 of concrete to come for Elizabeth Drive and Airport Access Road
- 3,612,442 hours worked
- More than 292,000 tonnes of topsoil reused.
As progress continues along the M12 and early investigative works begin to upgrade Elizabeth Drive and Mamre Road Stage 2, Transport for NSW will be launching a “Be truck aware” initiative over the coming weeks.
The campaign will remind drivers to remain vigilant and mindful of larger vehicles involved in construction or freight movement as work in the region continues.
Construction of the M12 will be complemented by the recently upgraded The Northern Road, current widening along the M7 and upgrades now being planned along Elizabeth Drive and Mamre Road.
