Transurban’s investment into WestConnex, NorthConnex slashes Western Sydney commute

Transurban’s $24.6b WestConnex and NorthConnex investment has transformed commutes for motorists travelling to and from Western Sydney, allowing people to drive further more quickly.

Finishing at Penrith: Estimated travel time improvements for a 60 minute drive to Penrith between 2016 and 2024.

Transurban’s $24.6bn WestConnex and NorthConnex ­investment has opened up the city for Western Sydney motorists­, allowing commuters to drive further more quickly.

Data revealed by Transurban has detailed how accessibility between 2016 and 2024 has transformed, with people living in Parramatta now able to drive far further in a 45-minutes morning commute than they could in 2016.

Commuters from Parramatta in 2016 would only have reached Leichhardt or Dulwich Hill in 45 minutes, but the new toll roads have opened up the city and inner east as well as Botany and Kogarah in that same time frame.

For those travelling north of Parramatta, motorists can now get as far as Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River in 45 minutes, whereas they would previously have only been able to get as far as Hornsby, a difference of about 27km.

Starting at Parramatta: Estimated travel time improvements for a 45 minute drive from Parramatta between 2016 and 2024.

Transurban transport analytics head Sam Taylor said with Sydney’s population growing by more than half a million people since 2016, it was “critical” that infrastructure matched commuter demands.

“The data we have produced shows how committed we are to supporting government strategic, long-term city-shaping,” she said.

“We want to work collaboratively with all levels of government to create a city that is more accessible and ­mobile for all.”

And, the WestConnex has broadened employment opportunities within a 45 minute drive for Parramatta residents by almost 60 per cent from 1.13m to 1.79m jobs.

Western Sydney commute times have been significantly reduced with the new motorways.

It has also benefited businesses with commuting workers as the WestConnex has increased talent pools by almost 50 per cent from 1.48m people within an hour’s drive to 2.21m.

The accessibility has cut commutes for those living in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with residents in Maroubra previously needing to allocate 80 minutes to get to Penrith.

But, in 2024, that commute has been slashed by 20 minutes.

MrsTaylor said that allows businesses to widen their talent pool and “rebalance economic activity west” which aligns with Sydney’s ‘Three Cities’ metropolitan strategy.

This article is part of the Future Western Sydney series, which is proudly supported by Clubs NSW, Powerhouse, Transurban, Walker Corp, Western Sydney International Airport and Western Sydney University

Originally published as Transurban’s investment into WestConnex, NorthConnex slashes Western Sydney commute