WORK will start in early 2015 on Sydney's biggest ever motorway project - the 33km West Connex, which will link Western Sydney and South Western Sydney with the city, airport and Port Botany, Premier Barry O'Farrell will announce today.

The cost of the motorway will be $11.5 billion and distance-based tolls will be introduced to pay for the road but up to a maximum cap no greater than that of the M7, of about $7.70.

It will run from Parramatta, to the City West Link, to Alexandria, down to Roselands.

Work on the M4 East element of the road - a 5km, two-way tunnel with three lanes from Homebush Bay Drive to the City West Link - will start by mid-2015 and finish 2019.

Work on the M5 East Airport link - from Beverly Hills to St Peters will start in 2016 and end in 2020.

To join the two to make one motorway, the M4 South will be built - an 8.5km, 2x3 lane tunnel from Haberfield to St Peters. It will start in 2018 with the entire motorway finished 2023.

The existing M4 will also be widened and tolled. Work will begin on taking that road from three to four lanes from January 2015 and be complete by early 2017.

Like the M7, the motorway will operate under distance-based tolling so drivers will be tolled from each entry point, but there will be a cap. In the case of the M7, motorists are charged 36.73 cents per km up to the cap.

The government says the business case for the project shows it will cut the trip from James Ruse Drive to Sydney Airport from 60 to 20 minutes and the journey from the CBD to James Ruse Drive from 50 to 25 minutes.

The government says it also is committed to revitalising the tired Parramatta Rd, which it says will be made possible by an expected 3000 trucks using the M4 East tunnel.

After Infrastructure NSW recommended the road last October, the O'Farrell government has committed $1.8 billion to the project and Prime Minister Tony Abbott $1.5 billion over four years, with most of the rest to come through the private sector via the tolls.

But the government is not ruling out providing more public funds for the project should the tolling not cover the remaining cost.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/green-light-given-for-the-115-billion-west-connex-motorway/story-fni0cx12-1226722391732

Where is this budget emergency?

So improving infrastructure and creating jobs at the same time is bad because the Coalition is doing it........

Idiot !

Good move Mr Abbott spending money on essentials.
Pity Labor couldn't implement this instead of wasting billions on unusable undersized school canteens and overpriced school halls during the GFC.

Ripping billions of cash out of vital services to fund a private motorway is not the way.

Federal government is not in the tunnel business.

Building and then gambling on selling it off for a profit down the track so the winners can then use it as a cash cow to strangle motorists.

Infrastructure includes public transport. What of all the people of sydney who don't drive cars?

Abbott ignores public transport while we are heading straight into a peak oil crisis. By denying people a first world public transport service, Abbott increases the traffic gridlock strangling the city.

Debt and dumb policies ... is this all Abbott has thought up after six years in the wilderness.

With all the money made from rego and fuel taxes NSW gets more Toll roads...just how pathetic can the Libs get?

Hopefully people will be able to bypass it, like they do in Brisbane with Campbell Newman's white elephant.

You do realise that by 2015 the debt will have skyrocketed and there will be no billion dollar projects.

Watch the debt clock.

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Sep 19^th, 2013 at 11:00am:

Good move Mr Abbott spending money on essentials. Pity Labor couldn't implement this instead of wasting billions on unusable undersized school canteens and overpriced school halls during the GFC.

Building privately owned tunnels ... this is essential to what?

Total cost of project    11.5 billion
NSW Contribution           1.8 billion
FEDS Contribution          1.5 billion
Road Users                  the rest in tolls

Enjoy your white elephant boys!!!  ;D ;D

____ wrote on Sep 19^th, 2013 at 11:08am:

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Sep 19th, 2013 at 11:00am: Good move Mr Abbott spending money on essentials. Pity Labor couldn't implement this instead of wasting billions on unusable undersized school canteens and overpriced school halls during the GFC. Building privately owned tunnels ... this is essential to what?

Just look how well the Sydney Tunnel is doing...second time in receivership  ;D

The debt clock

yesterday at 12:05       $4,688,958,565,579

today at 11:20             $4,690,710,853,976

up $2billion dollars overnight

Libs are economic vandals.

http://www.australiandebtclock.com.au/

Don't forget mining has crashed, we may well be bankrupt by 2015.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 19^th, 2013 at 11:31am:

The debt clock yesterday at 12:05       $4,688,958,565,579 today at 11:20             $4,690,710,853,976 up $2billion dollars overnight Libs are economic vandals. http://www.australiandebtclock.com.au/ Don't forget mining has crashed, we may well be bankrupt by 2015.

Its Malcolm Fraser and the late 70's all over again  ;D

Quote:

Just look how well the Sydney Tunnel is doing...second time in receivership  Grin

I don't see how that's a problem for anybody other than the private operators. They've probably learnt a valuable lesson about the poor investment privately owned roads can be - especially one so expensive to keep running as the SHT.

As long as they continue to keep the tunnel maintained - they have no choice - then the only winner I see is the NSW government who doesn't have to cough up for its upkeep until 2023.

viewpoint wrote on Sep 19^th, 2013 at 10:57am:

So improving infrastructure and creating jobs at the same time is bad because the Coalition is doing it........ Idiot !

How about a train line from the city to the Melbourne airport ??

How long have victorians been asking for this ?? :(

Instead the libbos are creating more roads for more polluting and outdated mode of transport :(

Madness.

This is a very dumb move by Abbott.

Every Sydneysider knows that a far greater priority are more beds, staffing-levels, and medical equipment in our public hospitals; upgrading and streamlining of our public transport; more parking space in the CBD; a big increase in police personnel; and bringing our Sydney ferries into the 20th century.

Green light given for the $11.5 billion West Connex motorway

No one in their right mind could think this is a good idea. Major arterial roads in cities is so yesterday. By the time they're finished, more lanes will be needed.

Can we have at least one city with a metro system.....please.

Good, fast, cheap and efficient public transport is what's needed.

Readers comments:

The world has moved on, it is the 21st century where cities are ripping out motorways (see Seoul, South Korea) and improving commute outcomes as a consequence (by building proper public transport in its place). But then again, we just voted to be in the 20th century not 21st so I guess we will get what we deserve!
.....................................................................

2015 will come and go and this wont be started ... the govt will have some poor excuse ... then re-announce it 5 years later and then try and tell us theyre doing a great job ... cost will blow out and then this govt will blame labor ... yawn ... next
................................................................

another government cash grab at its finest. There is no way i would pay $7.70 to use a road that needed this to be done many years ago. if all we do is get charged to use a PUBLIC road then why do we have to pay high rego fees, high fuel fees. M4 tolls were removed a few years ago to ease driver pain, yes it added some congestion but it was tollerable as you werent being charged to sit in it. All the rego fees and taxes we pay here should make up for the cost of this road on its own. NSW already pays high road taxes which none actually get used on roads its the biggest joke in history
................................................................

The WasteConnex is madness, lacks any vision and is not part of any long-term, 100-year transport plan . The WasteConnex is another short-term, 20-year, isolated, ad hoc state plan with no relationship to more significant transport options. Sydney needs LESS congestion, especially in the inner west areas, not MORE congestion. The government illogically wants taxpayers to pay $11,500.000.000 so we can have more congestion. As I said, its madness. The answer of course is to build strategic Tier One metro lines in the areas of highest priority for Sydney. See Singapore MTR.
............................................................................

Finished 2020 not likely say 2025 with 10 years of traffic mayhem. Cost will blow out to $15 billion + access to better public transport continual buses running down at street level with 1 car lane and 1 bus lane they have to be joking will be the same as is now. If they are going under Parramatta Rd with tunnel you cannot physically put 3 lanes each way under it unless the tunnel extends out to the building line under the existing footpath and to do that costs will skyrocket and engineering marvels will have to be put in. You may get a few short sections looking like "artists impression" but most will be 2 lane road to footpath then existing buildings and a few new ones. Only improvements to public transport will be buses running down surface road on what would be needed is a 24hour bus lane.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/green-light-given-for-the-115-billion-west-connex-motorway/comments-fni0cx12-1226722391732

Lord Herbert wrote on Sep 19^th, 2013 at 11:50am:

Madness. This is a very dumb move by Abbott. Every Sydneysider knows that a far greater priority are more beds, staffing-levels, and medical equipment in our public hospitals; upgrading and streamlining of our public transport; more parking space in the CBD; a big increase in police personnel; and bringing our Sydney ferries into the 20th century. This is where the Indonesian boats come into the picture, and if your boat breaks down between Manly and the Quay, the navy will tow it back  :)

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 19^th, 2013 at 11:51am:

Green light given for the $11.5 billion West Connex motorway No one in their right mind could think this is a good idea. Major arterial roads in cities is so yesterday. By the time they're finished, more lanes will be needed. Can we have at least one city with a metro system.....please. Good, fast, cheap and efficient public transport is what's needed. Readers comments: The world has moved on, it is the 21st century where cities are ripping out motorways (see Seoul, South Korea) and improving commute outcomes as a consequence (by building proper public transport in its place). But then again, we just voted to be in the 20th century not 21st so I guess we will get what we deserve! ..................................................................... 2015 will come and go and this wont be started ... the govt will have some poor excuse ... then re-announce it 5 years later and then try and tell us theyre doing a great job ... cost will blow out and then this govt will blame labor ... yawn ... next ................................................................ another government cash grab at its finest. There is no way i would pay $7.70 to use a road that needed this to be done many years ago. if all we do is get charged to use a PUBLIC road then why do we have to pay high rego fees, high fuel fees. M4 tolls were removed a few years ago to ease driver pain, yes it added some congestion but it was tollerable as you werent being charged to sit in it. All the rego fees and taxes we pay here should make up for the cost of this road on its own. NSW already pays high road taxes which none actually get used on roads its the biggest joke in history ................................................................ The WasteConnex is madness, lacks any vision and is not part of any long-term, 100-year transport plan . The WasteConnex is another short-term, 20-year, isolated, ad hoc state plan with no relationship to more significant transport options. Sydney needs LESS congestion, especially in the inner west areas, not MORE congestion. The government illogically wants taxpayers to pay $11,500.000.000 so we can have more congestion. As I said, its madness. The answer of course is to build strategic Tier One metro lines in the areas of highest priority for Sydney. See Singapore MTR. ............................................................................ Finished 2020 not likely say 2025 with 10 years of traffic mayhem. Cost will blow out to $15 billion + access to better public transport continual buses running down at street level with 1 car lane and 1 bus lane they have to be joking will be the same as is now. If they are going under Parramatta Rd with tunnel you cannot physically put 3 lanes each way under it unless the tunnel extends out to the building line under the existing footpath and to do that costs will skyrocket and engineering marvels will have to be put in. You may get a few short sections looking like "artists impression" but most will be 2 lane road to footpath then existing buildings and a few new ones. Only improvements to public transport will be buses running down surface road on what would be needed is a 24hour bus lane. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/green-light-given-for-the-115-billion-west-connex-motorway/comments-fni0cx12-1226722391732

more cars on roads means more toll fares, more traffic jams and wasted fuel in idle traffic which equates to more fuel revenue for the governments and oil companies. It's a win win win for big monopolistic corporations which is the libbo way :(

Delhi's metro success a lesson for Australia

Delivered on time, within budget, the project is one of the wonders of the world.

Let's talk about something inspiring. So many good ideas in infrastructure never get built. This is about one that did: one of the great infrastructure achievements of our time, almost a miracle.

Delhi is the world's second-biggest city, behind Tokyo. The United Nations estimates that in mid-2010 it had 22 million people - the population of Australia - spread across four neighbouring states. Traffic congestion is immense. Its buses are slow, hot and crowded. Until recently, its only railways were the long-distance lines to the rest of India.

And then Delhi built a metro: a metro that, in the context of India, has become one of the wonders of the modern world.
Planning began in 1995. Construction started in 1998. The first trains ran in 2002. It now has six lines, 143 stations, and carries 2 million passengers a day. By 2021, when stage four is complete, it will be bigger than the London Underground, and is forecast to carry 6 million passengers a day.


As a rule, nothing in India's public sector works as intended. But the Delhi metro works: 99.97 per cent of trains arrive within one minute of schedule. They are clean, cool and safe. At peak hour, they come every 2½ minutes. It runs at a profit. Every stage has been completed on time, within budget. In India, in the modern world, that is a miracle.
How did Delhi do it? And what can Australia learn from this model of world's best practice?

I dislike the ''great men'' approach to history, but in this case, it's indisputable. Infrastructure projects in India are usually characterised by political interference, corruption, delays, cost overruns and inefficiency. The Delhi metro broke the mould because they appointed a quietly brilliant, incorruptible, inspiring team leader as director, and gave him freedom to run it as he chose.


http://www.theage.com.au/comment/delhis-metro-success-a-lesson-for-australia-20130401-2h2w8.html#ixzz2fJve3ApF

Good Post Pansi,
freeways just don't seem to work.
Every time we get a new one in Melbourne they are clogged
up within 5 years to the point where the cars stop in peak hours.
You then have to pay money to sit on the freeway car park.