Joint Media Release: First traffic switch marks milestone on New M5

Motorists travelling towards the city on the M5 East Motorway at Kingsgrove will be driving on a new road surface from tomorrow, as construction pushes ahead for the WestConnex New M5 project.

Minister for WestConnex Stuart Ayres said the upcoming traffic switch for eastbound motorists marks the next construction milestone at the Kingsgrove site, where twin nine-kilometre tunnel entry and exit portals and surface connections are being built to provide a non-stop underground trip between Kingsgrove and St Peters.

“While tunnelling takes place underground to duplicate the existing M5 corridor, we’re making significant progress aboveground too,” Mr Ayres said.

“Motorists travelling on the M5 East at Kingsgrove can see a hive of activity under way either side of the motorway as workers push ahead with building the western entry and exit point for the New M5 tunnels, which will double the motorway corridor from two to four lanes in each direction.

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said work for the New M5 remained on track with around 1,700 people on average working on the project each day.

“This vital project is supporting up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs during peak construction,” Mr Fletcher said.

“It’s yet another example of how the Turnbull Government’s record infrastructure investment is creating jobs and driving economic growth across the country.”

New M5 Director Ken Reynolds said eastbound traffic will shortly be moved onto a new one kilometre, two lane section of road between King Georges Road and Kingsgrove Road, to the left of the existing road alignment.  

“By early next month westbound traffic between Kingsgrove Road and King Georges Road will be moved onto a temporary section of road to the right of the existing road alignment,” Mr Reynolds said.

“This will allow workers to safely continue construction of the tunnel portals and other required surface connections. These changed traffic conditions will not impact traffic capacity on the M5 East and will be in place until 2019.

“Motorists are advised to stay alert, follow the signs in place advising the changed conditions and drive with care. The 80km/h speed limit currently in place will remain unchanged.”

When the New M5 opens to traffic in early 2020, motorists will be able to travel from the King Georges Road Interchange at Beverly Hills to St Peters in around 10 minutes.

For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com  or for project information visit www.westconnex.com.au.