Introduction:

The NSW Government has initiated expressions of interest for the construction of the Sydney Gateway Project after reaching a $2.6 billion agreement with the Sydney Airport Corporation late last year. 

Commenting on the importance of Sydney Gateway project, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian stated that the gateway would be a key piece of city-shaping infrastructure that would provide an easier and more efficient means of access between Sydney Airport and Port Botany. The new Gateway combined with WestConnex is estimated to save up to 40 minutes of commute time from Parramatta to the airport. 

“The delivery of the toll-free Sydney Gateway will be a massive improvement to the way motorists travel to Sydney Airport and take around 10,000 heavy vehicles off local streets in Mascot every day as they travel to Port Botany,”- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Acting as an integral part of the NSW Government’s vision to complete missing links within the Sydney motorway network, the Sydney Gateway is designed to improve traffic flow and reduce travel time for NSW commuters. As such, this high capacity motorway network will enable support for growing communities, places and economies situated within the NSW region by greatly improving the way individuals and freight navigate from Sydney Airport or Port Botany.

Government officials have also advocated for the return of local streets to communities with The Sydney Gateway project rerouting up to 10,000 trucks and 100,000 pedestrian vehicles onto new roads rather than through local Mascot streets. 

 

Some of the key activities highlighted by the Sydney Gateway project include:  

• A new Motorway connection to be built between the New M5 Interchange at St Peters and the Airport and Port precinct. 

• Relocation and reconfiguration of the Airport drive.

• Major upgrades to Joyce Drive and Qantas Drive.

• Duplication of the Port Botany Freight Rail line to boost freight rail capacity to Australia’s biggest container port.

• Dedicated flyover to the front door of the domestic airport terminal.

 

Sydney Gateway promises: 

Roads Minister Andrew Constance declared that upon completion, the Sydney Gateway project would ensure that Sydney Motorists driving from the blue mountains all the way to Mascot’s domestic air terminal will not encounter a single traffic light. 

“There will be further time savings from Parramatta, Dee Why, Moorebank and Campbelltown, and provide relief to Southern Cross Drive, King Georges Road and the M5 East tunnel.” - Roads Minister Andrew Constance. 

Mr Constance went on to explain that although a successful private-sector bidder would be selected through the expressions of interest process, the Sydney Gateway would be provided toll-free. An environmental impact statement is also scheduled to be released by the end of the year with the government determined to have the project finalised by 2023 to accompany the completion of the ongoing WestConnex projects. 

Citing the recent opening of the WestConnex M4 Tunnels which had occurred “barely 36 hours” prior to talks of the Sydney Gateway project, the NSW Premier reiterated her government’s commitment to infrastructure projects.   

"This is a government that demonstrates we've barely finished one project and we have already started the next.” - NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Sydney Gateway will save commuters 40 minutes on a trip from Parramatta to the domestic terminal, 30 minutes from Haberfield, 22 minutes from Bankstown or Campbelltown, and 19 minutes from Rozelle. It will save up to 36 minutes on a trip from Eastern Creek to Port Botany, 30 minutes from Silverwater, and 20 minutes from Moorebank or Wetherill Park.

 

Building Crisis:

In the Premiers closing statements, she briefly addressed the Australian construction industry’s building crisis and voiced her desire to appoint a new building services commissioner at the end of this month or in early August. While no money had been allocated against the position in the recent state budget, Ms Berejiklian assured the public that there would be extra resourcing allocated for the new commissioner and the new building industry compliance regime that the government is believed to be working on.  

"We will be considering the whole package together but obviously appointing the building commissioner in the first instance is critical and then getting the [new] legislation through parliament," - Ms Berejiklian

Interested in the news regarding the future of Sydney’s road and transport networks? Check out the Sydney Roads and Transport Expo taking place alongside the Sydney Build Expo 2020!