New M4 tunnel’s first big test: Is it worth $7.89 a pop?

The new M4 tunnel might save you tons of time and mean you won’t have to squint into the morning sun on the peak hour commute, but it comes at a cost. The Daily Telegraph deployed two of its finest reporters to put the M4 tunnel on its first big test — day one of the school term.

• New M4 poles explained
• WestConnext tunnel v Parramatta Road

The new M4 tunnel might save you tons of time and mean you won’t have to squint into the morning sun on the peak hour commute, but it comes at a cost.

The Daily Telegraph deployed two of its finest reporters to put the M4 tunnel on its first big test — day one of the school term.

They set off at 7.45am from Alexandra St Westmead travelling to Liverpool Rd in Ashfield.

Reporter Christopher Harris dared to drive the clogged artery of Parramatta Road while his colleague Joanna Panagopoulos glided into the spacey new tunnel at a cost of $7.89 a pop.

Joanna Panagopoulos and Christopher Harris put the M4 tunnel to the test. Picture: Rohan Kelly

As to be expected the tunnel won hands down, shaving off 25 minutes to the journey — five more minutes than the government estimated it would.

While the average speed in the tunnel was just 85km/h — along Parramatta Road it was an average speed of mind numbingly boring 45km/h.

Reporter Joanna Panagopoulos, who took the tunnel, said she was surprised at how empty is was.

“After I merged onto the motorway, there was almost no traffic, and I could drive about 90km/h the whole way,” she said.

The first real test of the M4 tunnel west bound went without major dramas. Picture: John Grainger

“There were maybe five cars within 200 metres of me, the entire way from Westmead to Homebush.”

Meanwhile Harris had a bumpier ride — hitting the breaks abruptly for either traffic lights or gridlock.

“Sydney drivers have this obsession on riding right up on the car in front’s bumper — so unsurprisingly I lost five minutes because of a small accident at Westmead,” he said.

“There were trucks by the dozen and their drivers never stay in their lane — it feels like you’re taking your life in your hands just to get to work.

“As soon as I approached the edge of the inner west, Greenie drivers in TESLA and Volvo 4WDs suddenly appeared, aggressively weaving in and out of traffic.

Traffic was much worse on Parramatta Road. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“When I wasn’t fearing being squished by a truck I was bored stiff parked stationary in gridlock listening to Smooth 95.3.”

If you get on at Westmead as The Daily Telegraph did, the tunnel costs $7.89 or $23.65 for a truck.

Driving to work and back using the full length of the new M4 tunnel costs $78.90 a week.

Travel between Homebush and Haberfield will set you back $4.27 a pop while toll operators charge $3.12 to go from Concord to Haberfield.

An NRMA spokeswoman said the uptake of the tunnel has been disappointing.

Chris Harris had a frustrating journey on Parramatta Road. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“Anecdotally, traffic volumes in the tunnel are still very light, which is worrying,” NRMA spokeswoman Bridget Ahern said.

“The Government was concerned about excessive traffic if they offered a toll-free period, but at the moment the only excessive traffic is on Parramatta road.”

Yesterday Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance defended the government’s decision not to offer a free month of tunnel usage.

“A month long toll free period would have created chaos and confusion,” he said.

“I was at the Transport Management Centre early this morning and was pleased to see the tunnels pass their first major peak hour test with everyone back to school and work.”

“The great thing about the M4 tunnels is they give people a choice. Parramatta Road is still there for people to use, as they have for generations, if they prefer.”