$1b motorway extensions a priority in Sydney’s ‘war on congestion’

Motorists would be charged a toll based on the distance they traveled as would be the case on other sections of the new motorway.

Under the plan, one extension would run, most likely in a tunnel, from Tempe to President Avenue, Kogarah.

Mr Baird said the projects, which would be funded from a sale of 49 per cent of the electricity ‘‘poles and wires’’ network, were a key priority in the government’s ‘‘war on congestion’’ in Sydney.

‘‘The two extensions would provide an uninterrupted motorway corridor from Sydney’s south to Anzac Bridge, CBD at Darling Harbour and Sydney’s north,’’ he said.

“After 65 years of waiting, Sydney’s south can finally be brought closer to the city’s CBD.

“Previously, these two motorway connections would have taken more than a decade to build.

‘‘Now, we have an opportunity to build them sooner.

“The government has directed WestConnex Delivery Authority to examine whether WestConnex could be extended, either side of the M4 and M5, to create a new WestConnex north-south corridor between Anzac Bridge and south of the airport.

 “The authority is expected to report back to the government by the end of the year.

“These two new motorway extensions would make travel from Kogarah, Sutherland, Cronulla and Wollongong quicker and more reliable to Sydney’s CBD."

“For the first time, Sydney would have a genuine north-south corridor to the west of the CBD, to complement the eastern distributor in the east and to take pressure off that busy transport corridor.’’

Mr Baird said the proposed southern extension went ‘‘hand in hand’’ with the proposed F6 extension.

‘‘The plan provides a huge opportunity to bring projects such as the F6, and the detailed work required there, and the extension of WestConnex together.

‘‘You need a connection into the F6 corridor and this is an important opportunity in relation to that process.’’

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