The future is looking a little safer for transport operators and the drivers of the trucks and vans being sent along Sydney’s M5 between Moorebank Ave and the Hume Highway each day.
The NSW and Federal governments have announced they will contribute $190 million each to upgrade the M5 Westbound and remove the current bottleneck caused by the need for quick merges in a short stretch of road.
The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, will separate westbound traffic from the M5 near Moorebank Avenue from traffic on Moorebank Avenue joining the M5.
The new design will see the M5 West turnoff moved immediately west of Moorebank Avenue.
The project includes:
- A new 300m long, three lane bridge over the Georges River and the Southern Sydney Freight Line, T2 and T5 railway lines, improving the connections between the M5 Motorway, Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway
- Removal of the high-risk weaving section between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway
- Provision of extra lanes that will remove the need for around 2,600 vehicles per day to weave between lanes and other road users when navigating the entry and exit points at the Hume Highway and Moorebank Avenue
- A new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King says the works will boost productivity and safety in the area.
“This new westbound connection will simplify this busy section of the M5 through Liverpool, making it an easier and safer drive for everyone behind the wheel – especially during the afternoon peak,” King says.
“It will also help freight move more smoothly from the Moorebank Intermodal terminal and the M5, or to the Hume Motorway without having to enter the main flow of the M5.”
NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison says the project will help to ease congestion for those travelling to Western Sydney.
“Anyone who drives this stretch of the M5 is no stranger to the nightmare that is peak hour traffic,” Aitchison says.
“When everyone is trying to move across lanes at the same time it can not only be dangerous, but inevitably slows things down creating stop-start traffic. It’s not exactly how anyone wants to start their day.
“What this upgrade will do is take that pressure point out, giving drivers a clear run instead of forcing those last-minute merges. It means traffic can flow more smoothly and people can get through this section with a lot less stress.”
For more information on the project, click here.