The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have set the opening date for the brand-new M12 Motorway – the driveway to the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
After four years of construction, Western Sydney’s new, state-of-the-art motorway will open to traffic in the early hours of Saturday, 14 March, in time for the commencement of cargo and passenger flights at the new airport later in the year.
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, which will become a thriving innovation precinct and create thousands of jobs for the region.
The M12 is 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.
The motorway between Elizabeth Drive and The Northern Road will open in the early hours of Saturday morning, because the Albanese and Minns Governments are determined to open the new road to Western Sydney residents at the earliest opportunity.
The $2.1 billion project is funded with a $1.63 billion investment from the Albanese Government and a $408 million investment from the Minns Labor 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.
The Government has applied lessons from other new road corridors to ensure motorists can drive the M12 with confidence from day one. Signage, line-marking and lane guidance have been tested across key connections, with interactive driver animations available online so drivers can familiarise themselves with the route before opening.
Project highlights include:
- Around 181,933 cubic metres of concrete used, equivalent to 73 Olympic pools
- 5,217,117 hours worked
- 10,000 people employed, including 4,900 local workers
- Over 2.6 million m³ of earthworks completed, equivalent to 1,064 Olympic pools
- Construction of 17 bridges
- 461 bridge piles installed
- 637 bridge girders installed
- Over 1,5 million shrubs and grasses planted
- 18,500 trees planted
- 2,320 bridge lineal metres delivered
Premier of New South Wales 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 New South Wales.
“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.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“Sydney’s new airport will connect Western Sydney to the world, and the M12 will play a critical role getting passengers to the terminal, and freight to the tarmac.
“More than 8,000 people have worked on this project, more than 5,000 of them have been from here in Western Sydney. This road is their legacy, and I have no doubt many of them will use it, to get their families to the airport ahead of a big holiday in the years to come.
“This project is part of the Albanese and Minns Government’s unprecedented investment in the future of Western Sydney, building the infrastructure this community needs to deliver jobs and connect it to the world.”
Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car:
“This vital project is part of the $7.4 billion the Minns Labor Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023.
“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.
“Under the former government, residents in growing communities have had to live with the impact of infrastructure being delivered decades late or not built at all.
“This is an example of critical infrastructure being built and opened first.
“With the opening of the M12, together with making the toll cap permanent, the Minns Labor Government is delivering practical cost-of-living relief for families.”
NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:
“The M12 is a game-changing addition to the network – 16 kilometres of toll-free motorway and the new driveway to Western Sydney International Airport.
“Around 25,000 vehicles a day are expected to use this road – that’s traffic we can take off local streets by providing a high-quality, free alternative.
“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.”
Senator for New South Wales, Tony Sheldon:
“I’ve raised my kids in Western Sydney for more than 15 years, so I know firsthand how much time people here spend on the road just trying to get to work, school or sport.
“The M12 will take pressure off local roads and make everyday travel easier for families across Western Sydney – meaning less time sitting in traffic and more time being where you want to be. This is what Labor Governments delivering for Western Sydney looks like.”
Federal Member for Werriwa Anne Stanley:
“Western Sydney families know the cost of congestion: it steals time from dinner tables, weekend sport, and being with the people you love. The toll-free M12 gives that time back.
“This is the driveway to Western Sydney International Airport, and it means people in our community will have a faster, more reliable run to jobs and opportunities as the airport opens later this year.”
State Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty:
“People in Western Sydney have waited long enough.
“The Liberals and Nationals left Sydney with tollmania and the Minns Labor Government was determined the M12 would open toll-free, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”
Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda:
“The toll-free M12 is now open, and it’s a big win for Liverpool and Western Sydney.
“This motorway will provide the essential link for local families, workers and businesses to move across Western Sydney and connect to the new airport precinct.
“Motorists in Liverpool can breathe a sigh of relief, as the Minns Labor Government is ensuring the M12 is toll-free, helping manage cost-of-living pressures for Western Sydney households.”