New M4 poles explained for motorists

If you’ve driven on the M4 between Eastern Creek and Penrith over the past week, a string of new steel poles might have caught your attention.

• Sydney Zoo at Bungarribee recruiting 250 staff ahead of 2019 opening
• ‘Punched in the face, groped, choked’: Nurses protest after eight assaults at Blacktown Hospital in two weeks

The appearance of metal pylons on the M4 between Eastern Creek and Penrith in recent weeks has reignited driver concerns over the introduction of a new toll.

A series of steel poles were erected on the M4 last week near the Wallgrove Rd turn-off at Huntingwood and the Roper Rd turn-off at Colyton as works continue as part of the State Government’s M4 Smart Motorway upgrades.

A cluster of steel poles recently erected on the M4 at the Roper Rd turn-off at Colyton.

The poles have left some drivers scratching their heads, including this social media user who posted this query to Facebook: “I see new poles going up on the M4 just before the M7. Are they adding toll gates all over the M4 now which was supposed to originally have its toll removed after the rebates?”

Transport for NSW has addressed these concerns, informing drivers that the poles are traffic sign gantries, with more than 40 to be rolled out between Penrith and Parramatta over the coming months.

A Transport for NSW spokesman told the Advocate the poles were not a sign of a new M4 toll.

“These gantries are not being installed to accommodate tolling technology and the M4 Motorway will remain toll-free, west of Church Street (Parramatta),” the spokesman said.

An artist impression of new traffic gantries being rolled out on the M4 between Penrith and Parramatta. Picture: Roads and Maritime Services

Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said the gantries would provide real-time traffic information to motorists in an effort to improve traffic flow.

The signs will display speed limits and will be updated to inform drivers of lane closures and traffic hazards.

“This will be the first time real-time travel information is displayed along this section of the M4 Motorway and will help to ensure the thousands of drivers travelling along the motorway each day can experience more efficient and safer journeys,” Mr Constance said.

An artist’s impression of the new M4 traffic gantries, which will display speed limits and real-time traffic information. Picture: Roads and Maritime Services

The first gantry was installed at the Light Horse Interchange at Huntingwood on June 29. Once operational, it will display digital speed limit and lane use signs and span almost 50 metres.

The gantries, which are expected to be in use next year, range in length from 20 to 60 metres and weigh up to 40 tonnes.

An example of traffic gantries already in use in Victoria. Picture: Roads and Maritime Services

The technology will be the first of its kind to be introduced in NSW and incorporate ramp meters, CCTV, traffic sensors to manage traffic flows, incident response and travel times.

The M4 will be closed in sections between 9pm and 4am, Monday to Wednesday, as the remainder of the gantries are installed. For more information, visit the website.