Work on billions of dollars in major road infrastructure to support Sydney’s second airport at Badgerys Creek will be fast-tracked to begin this year.
After Tony Abbott’s promise of a $3.5 billion roads upgrade package for Western Sydney last month, both the NSW and federal governments want the projects to become operational “as quickly as possible”.
NSW roads minister Duncan Gay and federal assistant minister for infrastructure and regional development Jamie Briggs announced planning on the $1.25 billion East-West Airport Motorway, to link the new airport with the M7 Motorway, will start later this year.
It will include the construction of the $500 million first stage of transforming Bringelly Road from two to four lanes, between King Street at Rossmore and Camden Valley Way at Horningsea Park.
Detailed design work has already started on the first stage of the $1.6 billion upgrade of The Northern Road between Camden Valley Way at Narellan through to Peter Brock Drive at Oran Park.
Picture: Daily Telegraph Source: DailyTelegraph
The Northern Road will become a four-lane arterial between Narellan and the M4 Motorway at Orchard Hills.
There are also preliminary plans being drawn up for a diversion of The Northern Road, which currently runs through the site of the new airport.
As part of the roads spending announcement made last month, the federal government is contributing $2.9 billion over the next eight years, with $1.2 billion of that coming over the next four years.
NSW is contributing 20 per cent of the cost.
The Prime Minister predicted the package will result in 4000 new jobs in road construction alone.
Mr Briggs and Mr Gay undefined who have joint responsibility to implement the road infrastructure plan, prioritise funding of projects and consider future projects to be funded undefined were in Western Sydney this month to tour current and proposed construction sites along with local state and federal MPs.
Duncan Gay, Macarthur Federal Liberal MP Russell Matheson and Jamie Briggs meet at Bringelly Rd near Camden Valley Way to discuss Badgerys Creek airport and the infrastructure projects needed to accommodate it. Picture: Timothy Clapin Source: News Corp Australia
“Both governments are serious about building these vital economic roads projects as quickly as possible to get Western Sydney moving, which is why construction work is being fast-tracked to commence this year,” Mr Briggs said.
“The Australian government’s investment in Western Sydney’s future is a key pillar of our broader Economic Action Strategy and builds on significant commitments we’ve already made, including $1.5 billion towards building WestConnex, $405 million towards NorthConnex and developing the Moorebank intermodal terminal.
“These commitments, coupled with our responsible management of the budget, will not only ensure Western Sydney gets the fair go it deserves, but that it continues to grow into one of the economic powerhouses of Australia,” Mr Briggs said.
Mr Gay said the NSW government will soon be calling tenders for the 5.5km Stage 1 of the Bringelly Road upgrade, with construction to be completed around the end of 2017.
Planning will begin this year for the $1.25 billion Airport Motorway undefined along Elizabeth Drive undefined between the M7 and The Northern Road.
Source: News Corp by Jim O'Rourke from The Daily Telegraph. Original article.
