When complete, Sydney’s AUD16.8 billion WestConnex project will provide drivers with 33km of motorway to link western and south-western Sydney with the city, Kingsford Smith Airport and Port Botany precincts.

WestConnex is being delivered in four major stages, including the New M4 (opened in July 2019), the New M5 motorway, opening in 2020, the M4-M5 Link - new inner western bypass of the Sydney CBD and Rozelle Interchange, opening in 2023. The project comprises approximately 14 km of road above ground and approximately 19 km of tunnels, including a new tunnel linking the M4 and M5.

The New M5 Tunnels are scheduled to open in 2020 and will be  the second stage of the WestConnex works. The AUD4.3 Billion project contains twin 9 km long motorway tunnels extending from Kingsgrove to a multi-level interchange at St-Peters. The twin tunnels cater for two lanes in each direction, with future provision for an additional lane. The project will also provide future connections for the planned F6 project and WestConnex Stage 3, resulting in approximately 1.3km of a 4-lane tunnel in each direction, and 29 m span Y-junction caverns.

Commissioning works are well underway with over 500,000 m of electrical and fibre optic cables installed, and 4,700 LED lights and 203 fans are going to be fitted along the length of the tunnels.

There has been substantial progress made on the M4-M5 Link Tunnels (opening in 2023): more than 6km of tunnel and 2 million tonnes of spoil has been excavated in less than a year, with 28 roadheaders progressing at around 25 m on average every week. Click here for a video of the project and here for the M4-M5 Link tunnels progress.

Click here and au/13 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit westconnex.com.au. 

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