Another green light for WestConnex
4 March 2015
Federal Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs and NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay today announced the green light for another part of WestConnex to get under construction.
Planning approval has been granted to fix of one of Sydney’s worst pinch points, the King Georges Road Interchange, which is the first part of Stage 2 to get underway.
“The Australian Government’s concessional loan of up to $2 billion means Stage 2 of WestConnex has been fast tracked by 18 months to provide relief sooner for Western Sydney motorists and businesses,” Mr Briggs said.
“It means easing congestion for the 100,000 motorists who use the M5 each day so they can spend less time stuck in traffic and more time being productive at work or at home with the family.
“Through our multi-billion infrastructure investments we are delivering on our joint plan to slash travel times for motorists and create tens of thousands of jobs for a stronger and more prosperous New South Wales,” Mr Briggs said.
“Anyone sitting in gridlock on the M5 knows this project can’t come soon enough,” Mr Gay said.
“Stage 2 of WestConnex is all about fixing the M5 East. The M5 East is a monument to Labor’s infrastructure failures, and it’s been left to two grown up governments to fix.
“Stage 2 construction will start by upgrading the Interchange at King Georges Road at Beverly Hills, before we build the New M5 tunnel.
“Construction on this upgrade will start by mid year and will almost halve travel times around the interchange when WestConnex is complete.
“The King Georges Road Interchange Upgrade will create more than 100 new jobs during construction, build an extra lane in each direction and increase capacity on the eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramps between King Georges Road and the M5 East.
“This approval means work will be underway on both Stages 1 and 2 – both the M4 and M5 – at the same time. This is an exciting time for Sydney,” Mr Gay said.
The NSW Government is providing $1.8 billion worth of funding and the Australian Government $1.5 billion, in addition to the concessional loan.
ENDS
Media Contacts
- For Mr Briggs: Andrew Ockenden 0429 877 721
- For Mr Gay: Marie Scoutas 0467 739 976