WestConnex too late to save ~$8B?
Summary: Duplicating the M5 by an alternative route to City West rather than to Tempe will be more beneficial, more balanced for the future and save nearly 50% ($8b) in the current plan.
Key Points: It is essential to improve access to Port Botany and connect the M4 to (an improved) City West in the short term. Traffic congestion in the inner suburbs also requires attention in the next 15 years.
General traffic congestion is occurring for longer periods on the Eastern Distributor, approaching the Harbour Bridge, in Victoria Road and on the M5. Duplication of the M5 will direct more traffic to the Eastern Distributor.
A new connection from the M4 to an upgraded City West would resolve issues for a few years. (See Government Plan). A link from Beverley Hills (King Georges Rd) to City West at Anzac Bridge would take pressure off the M5 and the Eastern Distributor, (but put pressure on the Western Distributor). Taking traffic out of the M5 would free movement the majority of freight to Botany using the M5. An link to Tempe would allow M4 traffic to reach Botany albeit by a slightly longer route and more importantly would provide a direct link from Victoria Road.
Most of the alignment could be in a tube above ground, this combined with the shorter route would save about half the cpst of the project and achieve the
same aims at the same time setting up the network for the next stage of a long term plan; a second Harbour Tunnel from Roselle to North Sydney. But what about the West, see SITS.
