Western Sydney communities are free of a notorious traffic bottleneck with the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments officially opening the upgraded Prospect Highway today.
The $280 million upgrade, funded jointly and delivered by the Australian and New Governments, has transformed the Highway from an undivided single lane road connection into a modern divided highway with up to six lanes.
Prospect Highway is a major roadway that connects Western Sydney motorists with the M4 Motorway, the Great Western Highway, Old Windsor Road and the M2 Motorway.
For the 35,000 vehicles and 5,000 trucks a day that use the route, the highway had become a slow-moving headache as the area's traffic volume overtook the capacity of the road.
The 3.6 kilometre upgrade provides six lanes between St Martins Crescent and Blacktown Road and four lanes between Blacktown Road and Reservoir Road.
This has resulted in significant travel time savings with previous average travel time of 20 minutes along this section of Prospect Highway now reduced to five minutes.
Due to the increased safety of the divided, wider, smoother road, the speed limit has been raised from 60 km/h to 70 km/h between Reservoir Road and St Martins Crescent.
The upgrade also features:
- Two new bridges over the M4 and Great Western Highway
- New link road between Great Western Highway and Prospect Highway
- Kerb-side bus lane in each direction between Lancelot Street and north of St Martins Crescent
- Multiple upgraded and signalised intersections
- New kiss-and-ride facility at Shelley Public School to keep children safely away from the highway
- New pedestrian underpass
- Upgraded 3.7km shared user path on the western side
Western Sydney is NSW's fastest growing region and Blacktown is expected to be home to 563,350 people by 2041. This road will make a significant difference to the motorists who use it everyday, supporting jobs and providing better access to opportunities for Sydney's growing west.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
"Thanks to these major improvements, about 35,000 motorists and 5,000 heavy vehicles who use this road daily will benefit from reduced congestion, faster travel times and safer journeys.
"This project is a major example of both levels of government working in partnership for the benefit of people in Western Sydney."
Quotes attributable to Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:
"Prospect Highway is a vital north-south road in Western Sydney and for too long, it was an outdated two-lane traffic bottleneck.
"This upgrade gets drivers moving again on a safer road, and less time sitting in traffic means more time at home with family and friends.
"For truck drivers, time is money. This upgrade will improve traffic flow for the thousands of trucks that use it every day and boost Western Sydney's reputation as a place to do business and for families to live."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for McMahon Chris Bowen:
"Prospect Highway was a road from another era that has struggled to get drivers from this part of Western Sydney to where they need to be.
"This upgrade provides the much-needed lanes that will cut journey times and keep people moving."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland:
"Prospect Highway is a crucial connector for our community and is used by tens of thousands of motorists each and every day to access both the M2 and the M4.
"Upgrading Prospect Highway was vital for motorists in this area but also a great improvement in safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists through the road and shared path improvements it delivers.
"I'm extremely pleased to have advocated for the funding and delivery of this vital upgrade and look forward to the benefits it will deliver for our community."
Quotes attributable to State Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali:
"Prospect Highway had been an essential arterial route since it was first developed out of local roads in the 1980s and the upgrade is much needed.
"It's been exciting to watch as this project has progressed and I'm sure locals will be as thrilled as me with the improved travel times and reduced congestion now it is complete."
Quotes attributable to State Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott:
"This project is about more than motoring - around 2000 jobs have been created across the lifecycle of the project, delivering employment as well as better access for local communities
"Public transport customers will benefit from new bus lanes between Lancelot Street and north of St Martins Crescent while pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy the upgraded shared path on the western side of the highway."
"Aboriginal businesses including a workforce of 101 Aboriginal people from contractors and construction companies contributed to the success of the project."
