WestConnex M4-M8 Link to open on Friday, saving drivers up to 40 minutes

The final stage of Sydney’s long-awaited WestConnex is almost completely finished with the M4-M8 link to open on Friday.

Drivers are set to save up to 40 minutes on a trip from Parramatta to Mascot from Friday when one of the final stages of WestConnex opens, two months ahead of schedule.

Twin 7.5km tunnels linking the M4 at Haberfield and the M8 at St Peters will finally open to the public on Friday morning, creating a vital link for the WestConnex project and forming the nation’s longest continuous underground motorway.

The link between the M4 and M8 will connect to the Rozelle Interchange when it opens late this year, marking the completion of WestConnex.

The Rozelle Interchange will link WestConnex to the Anzac and Iron Cove bridges, as well as the planned Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.

The M4-M8 link, which at its deepest point is 55 metres underground, was made with 570,000 cubic metres of concrete and more than 9,600 tonnes of steel. It contains 2,000km of cables and 3,964 LED lights.

Sydney motorists will have their commute time slashed thanks to a new link between the M4 and M8. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the project which will help people get home “sooner and safer”.

“Our strong, long-term economic plan has delivered a road project that will completely transform Western Sydney, helping people get home sooner and safer,” Mr Perrottet said.

Premier Dom Perrottet at Westconnex at its completion. Photo Jeremy Piper

“This vital new link will save motorists up to 40 minutes on their journey between Western Sydney and Sydney Airport, bypassing 52 sets of traffic lights by travelling through 22 kilometres of tunnels deep under the city.

A quarter of a million motorists are already using WestConnex every day.

More than 12,000 people have been involved in building the M4-M8 extensions, with 65,000 jobs created across all stages of WestConnex so far.