The NSW and Australian Governments have set the opening date for the “driveway” to the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport – the new $2.1 billion M12 Motorway.
After four years of construction, the new, state-of-the-art motorway will open to traffic in the early hours of Saturday, 14 March.
The 16-kilometre section of the M12 connects Elizabeth Drive in the east to The Northern Road in the west, delivering an intersection-free, 100 km/h run straight to the airport precinct. It will serve as the key gateway to the new airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, said NSW Premier, Chris Minns.
“As a direct gateway to Western Sydney International Airport, this brand new toll-free motorway is critical to the future of this growing region of NSW,” said Premier Minns.
“Communities in Western Sydney deserve this world-class infrastructure which will ease pressure on local roads, cut travel times and improve connectivity with the rest of Sydney’s road network.
“From Saturday, thousands of motorists will have the chance to use this new motorway for the very first time to more quickly and easily get to where they need to go.”
The M12 has been designed to seamlessly integrate with the wider road network, improving connectivity for motorists and freight operators across Sydney. The final component – the M7/M12 Interchange at Cecil Hills – remains on track to open mid-year delivering a motorway-to-motorway and intersection-free connection between the M12 and the M7.
“This vital project is part of the $7.4 billion the Minns Labor Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023,” said Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car.
“This is a good outcome for Western Sydney – a brand-new, toll-free motorway that takes pressure off local roads and gives people more time back with their families.”
The $2.1 billion project was funded with a $1.63 billion investment from the Australian Government and a $408 million investment from the NSW Government. It is expected to take around 25,000 vehicles a day off local roads, taking pressure off suburban streets and improving travel times and reliability across the region.
“And we’ve learnt from other new corridors: signage, line-marking and lane guidance have been tested at key connections, and drivers can preview the route using online driver animations so they can hit the M12 with confidence from day one,” said NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison.
