State-of-the-art technology that allows speed limit variations and faster responses to vehicle breakdowns on one of Sydney’s busiest motorways will be switched on early on Monday, helping to improve traffic flows during peaks.
The so-called smart motorway technology has been installed at 24 locations along a 5.5-kilometre stretch of the Western Distributor between the Sydney Harbour and Anzac bridges in the central city.
Smart speed signs will begin to operate on Anzac Bridge on Monday.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Jointly funded by the state and federal governments, the $179 million Western Distributor project will result in motorists receiving real-time digital information, including speed limit changes and safety messages.
The technology includes automatic incident detection that will speed up road authorities’ response to breakdowns and traffic snarls on a motorway used by 130,000 motorists a day.
It is similar to technology installed on the M4 motorway along Sydney’s east-west spine three years ago and the $17 billion WestConnex motorway.
NSW Roads Minister John Graham said the Western Distributor was a critical part of the road network, making it the right place to deploy the smartest technology to help keep traffic flowing.
“This technology has a proven track record of reducing travel times but also reducing crashes,” he said. “When an incident happens, this system reacts immediately, which should ensure that time lost to delays is reduced.”
A render of the digital speed signs in operation on the Anzac Bridge.Credit: NSW government
Under the previous Coalition government’s plans, the technology was targeted for completion in time for the opening of a spaghetti junction in Sydney’s inner west late last year.
It was to be one of a range of measures to reduce chronic traffic congestion in the months after the $3.9 billion interchange at Rozelle for WestConnex opened.
According to government data, crashes on the M4 motorway have declined by a quarter and journey times by 20 per cent since the technology was introduced in 2021.
Motoring group NRMA said it was a “huge supporter” of the digital technology and wanted to see it rolled out across the motorway network.
“The cost is dwarfed by the economic and social benefits of reducing crashes,” NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said. “It also significantly reduces congestion. Fleet running businesses stuck in traffic can’t make money.”
The technology uses integrated variable electronic road signs to communicate real-time speed limit changes and road incident alerts to motorists. It has been installed on 19 new gantries and four existing ones along the Western Distributor.
While the technology will help improve traffic flows, the Anzac Bridge and Western Distributor will remain under pressure from large volumes of vehicles until a $6.7 motorway under Sydney Harbour between Rozelle and North Sydney opens to motorists in 2028.
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