Sydney Gateway

Last updated

Sydney Gateway

New South Wales
Sydney Gateway Twin Arch Bridges December 2023 1.jpg
Twin Arch Bridge over the Alexandra Canal in December 2023. At the time of the photo, the westbound bridge at the back is still under construction.
Sydney Gateway
Australia New South Wales relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Sydney Gateway
Coordinates
General information
TypeRoad junction  (Under construction)
Location St George District
OpenedNovember 2023–December 2024 (planned)
Maintained by Transport for NSW
Major junctions
North end
South end

The Sydney Gateway is a partially-open major road interchange between the WestConnex and the airport terminals of Sydney Airport, and includes a new pair of arch bridges over the Alexandra Canal and an eastbound flyover connecting Qantas Drive to the domestic terminal buildings. Upon completion, the Sydney Gateway will connect the Sydney Motorway network with the Sydney Airport and Port Botany precincts via the St Peters Interchange. [1] [2] The completed project is expected to provide significantly improved road links between the Airport, City and Port Botany, whilst reducing congestion. [3]

Contents

Construction began in early 2021 and sections of the interchange were progressively opened since November 2023. [4] [5] [6] [7] The interchange is expected to fully open in December 2024. [8] It was originally planned to fully open in late 2023 in conjunction with the connecting M4–M8 Link, the latter of which ultimately opened earlier in January 2023. [9]

The Sydney Gateway was constructed in conjunction with the duplication of the nearby Port Botany freight rail line, which is being managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. [10]

Design

The Sydney Gateway starts at the St Peters Interchange, the junction of the M8 Motorway and M4–M8 Link, all of which were built as part of WestConnex. Viaducts will be built over Canal Road, the Port Botany freight rail line and Tempe Lands. Further southwest, the Sydney Gateway splits into two, leading to Airport Drive and Qantas Drive towards the west and east respectively. [11]

A section of Airport Drive will be closed permanently and traffic will be redirected to use Sydney Gateway to access between the international and domestic terminals via Sydney Gateway. [3] A pair of arch bridges has been constructed over the Alexandra Canal for the realigned traffic, and has been referred to as Twin Arch Bridge by the state government. [5]

A single traffic light is also located along the Sydney Gateway for access to and from Link Road, just east of the Twin Arch Bridge. [12] This is the only controlled intersection along the Sydney Gateway, with the rest of the Sydney Gateway being free-flowing traffic.

A 800-metre (2,600 ft) long one-way elevated flyover in the eastbound/southbound direction has also been built linking Qantas Drive towards the Sir Reginald Ansett Drive and the domestic terminals precinct. The flyover bypasses two signalised intersections with Seventh Street and O'Riordan Street, and enables travel from Sydney's motorway network to the domestic terminals without stopping at a single traffic light. [3] The flyover has been named Deborah Lawrie Flyover after Australia's first female commercial pilot Deborah Lawrie. [4] [13]

As of April 2024, other than the connection to St Peters Interchange, the rest of the Sydney Gateway have already been open.

Tolls

Sydney Gateway is toll-free. [9] However, WestConnex tolls still apply to traffic coming or going via St Peters Interchange, as traffic must use the WestConnex tunnels and cannot exit the St Peters Interchange onto Euston Road or Gardeners Road.

History

Planning

In November 2017, the project was in the design and planning phase that includes developing connections to the St Peters interchange, to Sydney Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3, grade separation of Robey Street and O’Riordan Street in Mascot, the duplication of a 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) section of the Port Botany Rail Line, within a complex stakeholder environment, with significant utility assets impacted and a heavily congested area. [2] A 2017 proposal by Lendlease was not accepted. [14] The rail line duplication was originally Stage 2 of the Sydney Gateway and is separately managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. [10] Stages 1 and 3 then formed the remainder of the project managed by the state government. [15] [16]

The proposed alignment passes over Sydney Airport land, which is leased from the Commonwealth government. As such, the project must undergo both state and Commonwealth (federal) planning processes. In addition to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required by state planning process, a Major Development Plan (MDP) is also required before major development at a leased airport can occur. Planning approvals from both the federal and state planning ministers are also required. [17] A combined EIS and MDP was released for exhibition on 20 November 2019. [18] The project was approved by the state planning minister on 27 August 2020. [19] The project was approved by the federal planning minister on 23 September 2020. [20] [21]

Construction

Expressions of interest to construct the Sydney Gateway commenced in July 2019. [9] In October 2019, three shortlists were announced: [22]

In November 2020, the John Holland Seymour Whyte joint venture (JHSWJV) was awarded the design and construction contract. [20] Construction began in early 2021 and the motorway is expected to open in December 2024. [8] It was originally planned to open in late 2023, together with the M4–M8 Link.

In August 2021, the project's Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) was approved by the state Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, allowing construction work to be started on state land. [23]

Opening

In mid-2023, it was announced that the Sydney Gateway would be open in stages. The first stage would be the eastbound direction including the eastbound arch bridge and the traffic light connection to Link Road. The second stage would be the flyover from Qantas Drive to the domestic terminal buildings (later named Deborah Lawrie Flyover). The third stage would be the westbound direction including a widened Qantas Drive and the westbound arch bridge. The last and fourth stage would be the connection to WestConnex and St Peters Interchange, and new pedestrian and cycling paths. [24]

Ironically, the second stage opened first on 12 November 2023, while the first stage opened a week later on 19 November. [4] [5] On 11 February 2024, the westbound traffic was diverted via Sydney Gateway and temporarily via the eastbound arch bridge. [6] On 21 April 2024, the westbound arch bridge opened and westbound traffic was moved onto the new bridge. [7] The last stage (connection to St Peters Interchange) will open later in the year.

Future

The South East Sydney Transport Strategy, released by Transport for NSW in August 2020, proposed a potential extension of Sydney Gateway to Port Botany by 2056, with grade separation at General Holmes Drive, as well as ramps connecting to Canal Road. [16]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (5 February 2018). "Sydney Airport road block to state government's $1.8 billion link to WestConnex".
  2. 1 2 "Sydney Gateway Project". MBB Group Pty Ltd. 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sydney Gateway Concept Design Project Overview" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services Government of New South Wales. Autumn 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Flyover to the Domestic Terminals" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "International Terminal Connection" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. 1 2 "New Airport Drive" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Second Twin Arch Bridge" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Timeline blowout for Sydney's multibillion-dollar Gateway road project". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "A step forward for Sydney Gateway". Transport for NSW. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Botany Rail Duplication Project". Australian Rail Track Corporation. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "Sydney Gateway – Australia's Front Door". Roads and Maritime Services . Government of New South Wales . Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Interactive Map". Sydney Gateway. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "Australia's first female pilot at major commercial airline Deborah Lawrie opens Sydney Airport bridge named in her honour". ABC News. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ↑ O'Sullivan, Matt (4 September 2017). "Double toll looms as Lendlease bids to build motorway to Sydney Airport". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Sydney Gateway". Australia & New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  16. 1 2 "South East Sydney Transport Strategy" (PDF). Future Transport 2056. Transport for NSW. August 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Sydney Gateway road project - Planning process" (PDF). Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Spring 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Sydney Gateway". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  19. ↑ "Sydney Gateway Road Project". Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Major Projects. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  20. 1 2 "New Gateway to Sydney on its way". Transport for NSW. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Sydney Gateway". Sydney Airport. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "Shortlist announced for Sydney Gateway" (PDF). Australia & New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline. Transport for NSW. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  23. ↑ Sydney Gateway - August 2021, Transport for NSW. Retrieved 30 August 2021
  24. ↑ "Sydney Gateway - Upcoming traffic changes" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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