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This was published 8 months ago

Rozelle interchange chaos looms over new Sydney Airport motorway

By Matt O'Sullivan

The final piece of a $2.6 billion motorway to Sydney Airport is due to open within about eight months, testing the management of greater traffic flows from a WestConnex toll road junction to the international and domestic terminals.

After the Rozelle interchange’s opening caused traffic chaos, officials want to avoid a repeat when motorists start driving on a main part of the so-called Sydney Gateway from the WestConnex interchange at St Peters to the airport’s domestic and international terminals.

The twin arch bridges are a key part of the Sydney Gateway motorway.

The twin arch bridges are a key part of the Sydney Gateway motorway.Credit: Kate Geraghty

The motorway connection to the St Peters interchange is due to open late this year, about five months after westbound motorists start driving on the final twin arch bridge over Alexandra Canal near the international terminal.

The opening of the project, which was one of the original justifications for the 33-kilometre WestConnex, has been staged to limit traffic disruption.

An 800-metre-long flyover bridge for motorists driving to the domestic terminals, as well as the first of the twin arch bridges, opened in November. The New Airport Drive north of the main runway followed suit last month, and is three lanes in each direction.

Together, the twin arch bridges will be wider than the Sydney Harbour Bridge at eight lanes. They are both 108 metres long and 26 metres wide.

Sydney transport expert Mathew Hounsell said more lanes and breakdown bays had been added to the new motorway, indicating that transport officials had learned lessons from other projects.

The gateway will have capacity for more than 100,000 vehicles a day once completed.

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Unlike the Rozelle interchange, Hounsell said the new motorway would not have such a distinct morning and evening peak because of the airport’s longer operating hours, helping to limit congestion.

However, he said the test would be over the longer term as traffic volumes on the motorway grew. “As people get used to it, it will induce demand,” he said.

Westbound lanes on one of the twin arch bridges over Alexandra Canal are due to open in the middle of the year.

Westbound lanes on one of the twin arch bridges over Alexandra Canal are due to open in the middle of the year.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Roads Minister John Graham said a critical part of preparing for the opening of the final stage was ensuring that traffic moved smoothly between the motorway and the airport.

“Transport for NSW is working closely with Sydney Airport on issues like kerbside management to ensure the flow of vehicles in and around the precinct is as seamless as possible,” he said.

Unlike with WestConnex, motorists will not have to pay tolls to use the new motorway.

Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins said the agency applied learnings from all major road changes to motorway openings, and was working closely with the project team to plan for a smooth opening.

“This includes working with Sydney Airport to understand the optimum time for major road changes,” he said.

The 800-metre-long flyover to the domestic terminals opened in November.

The 800-metre-long flyover to the domestic terminals opened in November.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Collins said work was under way to help motorists adjust to new routes, as well as ensuring appropriate signage and traffic light phasing was in place.

The gateway was originally meant to be completed in 2023, but the previous Coalition government conceded several years ago that it would take about a year longer.

A NSW Audit Office report in 2021 criticised the then Coalition government for excluding the multibillion-dollar bill for building the Sydney Gateway and other works from the WestConnex project, warning that it understated the full cost of the latter. The previous government repeatedly put the cost of WestConnex at $16.8 billion.

Sydney Airport’s international terminal.

Sydney Airport’s international terminal.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Transport for NSW deputy secretary Camilla Drover said the motorway was opening in stages to minimise disruption to motorists and improve construction efficiency.

“The staged openings … have resulted in traffic flowing well in and around the airport precinct. We will continue to monitor traffic in and around the project as construction progresses and make adjustments if necessary,” she said.

The gateway project includes about three kilometres of new pedestrian and cycling paths.

Sydney Airport, which is now run by former Transurban chief executive Scott Charlton, said the new motorway would make trips to the airport faster and improve connections within the precinct.

A spokesperson said the flyover to the domestic terminals opened successfully in November, allowing motorists travelling from the southwest to bypass an O’Riordan Street intersection.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5fac2