The Coalition's plan to reduce traffic congestion in Sydney |
30th June, 2012 |
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
THE HON. TONY ABBOTT MHR, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION &
THE HON. WARREN TRUSS MHR, LEADER OF THE NATIONALS AND
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT
A Coalition Government will kick-start funding of the M4 East with a $1.5 billion commitment.
The commitment is part of the Coalition’s $4 billion Plan to Reduce Traffic Congestion which will provide funding towards three new major road projects in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Inadequate road infrastructure and traffic congestion have a negative impact on the productivity of Australia’s largest city.
Parents are away from their families for longer and businesses and consumers are paying more in transportation costs.
The M4 East is a key missing link in Sydney’s road infrastructure – and is long overdue.
Unlike Labor, we will keep our word on the M4 East. Labor had set aside $300 million for planning the M4 East, but in 2011-12 the Government diverted $270 million elsewhere.
We recognise that the M4 East is a large project and it will become a reality with a Commonwealth contribution.
We want this project moving within 12 months of an election and we will work closely with the State Government to ensure it happens.
Funding for our major road commitments will be met from the next Nation Building programme and responsible budget savings.
The timing of payments for this project will depend on construction progress and will be developed in consultation with the State Government. The first year of funding for the Coalition’s Plan to Reduce Traffic Congestion will be 2014-15.
Background
The project completes the east-west corridor from the Blue Mountains to the eastern suburbs, running from Strathfield to the city, Gladesville and Port Botany.
The current preferred option incorporates four key components:
* Widening/upgrading of the M4 Motorway from west of Church Street (near Pitt Street at Merrylands) to Concord Road at North Strathfield.
* A tunnel from North Strathfield to just south of Campbell Road at St Peters with ramp connections to the City West Link at Lilyfield/Rozelle and Parramatta Road/Broadway at Glebe/Chippendale. A bus only connection at Parramatta Road, Haberfield is also possible.
* A surface motorway link from just south of Campbell Road to the road network around Sydney Airport probably connecting to Canal Road and Qantas Drive (the latter subject to M5 East Expansion planning and Sydney Airport Corp Ltd agreement).
* Northern motorway tunnel connecting Victoria Road near Gladesville Bridge to the main tunnel in the Leichhardt area.
Federal Labor set aside $300 million for planning but diverted $270 million in funds in the 2011-12 Budget to the Pacific Highway duplication.
The M4 East upgrade has been assessed by Infrastructure Australia and the project was listed as an ‘early stage’ project in 2011.
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