WestConnex: Minister warns drivers of ‘short-term pain for long-term gain’

MOTORISTS are being warned to expect fresh disruption as tunnelling begins for the $17 billion congestion-busting WestConnex project.

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MOTORISTS are being warned to expect fresh disruption as tunnelling begins for the $17 billion congestion-busting WestConnex project.

There will be a series of lane closures on Parramatta Rd and around the M4 to make way for the work, with Roads Minister Duncan Gay issuing a grim warning for motorists to expect short-term pain for long-term gain.

“Once WestConnex is opened, motorists will be able to get to their destinations quicker, and local roads which are currently clogged with traffic will be returned to their communities,” he said.

WestConnex work continues in Walker Ave, Haberfield. Picture: John Appleyard

“But we have a lot of work to do in the meantime to build this city-changing piece of infrastructure, and we thanks motorists for their patience while we get the job done.”

WestConnex involves widening and extending the M4 and tunnelling beneath Parramatta Rd towards the inner west. The motorway will then sweep south and link to an upgraded M5 in the southwest.

Tunnelling began on M4 eastbound section at Concord in July, and a second tunnel is now being created from Homebush.

The government says further tunnels will start before the end of the year on a new stretch of the M5 between Beverly Hills and St Peters.

How WestConnex will unfold.

Ongoing works command views around Haberfield, where houses have been demolished and WestConnex construction is under way. Picture: John Appleyard

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From Sunday night, a westbound lane of Parramatta Rd will be closed between Ashfield Park and Bland St at Ashfield to make way for the work.

This will remain shut until the new M4 East opens in 2019.

A westbound lane of the M4 entry ramp from Parramatta Rd at Concord will also be shut “in coming weeks” until 2019.

Further closures and disruptions include an eastbound lane closure on Parramatta Rd between Bland St and Rogers Ave and night roadworks on the M4 between Church St and Homebush Bay Dve at Homebush until early next year.

The government said there will also be “continual lane, ramp and carriageway closures” as the motorway widening work continues.