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Link to original content: http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/Freeways/M7/m7.htm
WESTLINK M7 (WESTERN SYDNEY ORBITAL)
Length: 40km
Northern Terminus: M2 Motorway, West Baulkham Hills
Southern Terminus: M5 Motorway, Prestons
Route Markers: M7
Tolls Payable: 29.95c/km capped at $5.85
Opened to traffic: 16 December 2005
RTA Internal Classification: Freeway No. 6009
Gazetted: 17 January 2003
The Westlink M7 forms part of the former Sydney urban link of the National Highway system but is electronically tolled. The 40km motorway links the M5 Motorway at Prestons with the M2 Motorway at Baulkham Hills, bypassing up to 58 sets of traffic lights (compared to a trip via the Cumberland Highway), and provides connections to Elizabeth Drive, the M4 Motorway and Richmond Road. The motorway is designed to suit speeds of up to 110km/h with two lanes in each direction in a dual carriageway set-up.
The Westlink M7 commences at a three-level stack interchange with the M5 Motorway between Camden Valley Way and Beech Rd at Prestons, heading north beneath Kurrajong Road before turning north west to cross Bernera Rd, where a diamond interchange is being constructed. From Bernera Road the motorway heads north-west across Hoxton Park Road (no interchange) and Cowpasture Road (diamond interchange), passing to the west of Hoxton Park Airport and Cecil Hills. An interchange will be provided where the M7 meets Elizabeth Drive, just to the east of Wallgrove Road. The parallels Wallgrove Road a matter of metres to the east from Elizabeth Drive to the Great Western Highway with access provided at Villiers Rd (northbound onramp), The Horsley Drive (diamond interchange), Old Wallgrove Rd (modified trumpet) and the M4 Motorway (four-level stack interchange). The interchange with the M4 has been named "Light Horse Interchange" to honour the memory of those Australians who served in the Light Horse Infantry, which had a camp on the Wonderland site during World War 2. From the north-facing half-diamond interchange at the Great Western Highway the motorway passes to the west of Rooty Hill utilising the Philip Parkway reservation to Richmond Rd. Interchanges are provided at Woodstock Ave (south-facing ramps), Power St (north-facing ramps) and at Richmond Rd (fully-directional interchange). At Richmond Rd the motorway turns east and passes north of Dean Park and to the south of Quakers Hill. East-facing ramps will be provided at Quakers Hill Parkway and a full diamond interchange at Sunnyholt Road. From there the motorway passes east between Glenwood and Kings Langley before heading south-east to join the M2 Motorway near Abbott Road at West Baulkham Hills. Further interchanges are provided at Old Windsor Road and Abbott Road, while a new link road connects the motorway with Norwest Boulevard.
The Roads and Traffic Authority also undertook a number of associated roadworks to deal with the expected increase in traffic volumes on roads that feed to the motorway interchanges. These projects included:
Explore the Westlink M7:
Project History
Construction Photos
Post-Opening Photos
Last updated 31 March 2007 © Ozroads 2004-2007. |