Westlink M7 Widening

Transport has received planning approval to widen the M7 Motorway between the M5 at Prestons and Richmond Road at Oakhurst.

The proposal underwent a rigorous approval process to ensure it will deliver benefit to the community, motorists and industry.

Transport for NSW is widening the Westlink M7 within the existing median by adding one lane in each direction between the M5 interchange at Prestons, approximately 140 metres south of the Kurrajong Road overhead bridge (southern end), to the Westlink M7 bridge at Richmond Road in Oakhurst/Glendenning (northern end). Once complete, there will be three lanes of traffic in each direction. The widening will not occur through the Light Horse Interchange at the M4 Motorway.

By increasing capacity and easing congestion, the widening will improve journey times for freight and motorists and alleviate pressure on some of our city’s most critical transport corridors. Increased capacity on the Westlink M7 will also support the future Western Sydney Aerotropolis and surrounding growth areas.

Benefits of widening the Westlink M7:

• Ease congestion by enabling faster and more reliable connections between Sydney’s South West and North West
• Better and more reliable trips for people, businesses, and freight
• Improve journey times to planned growth areas and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.

The Modification Report was exhibited by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for 21 days from Wednesday 3 August to Tuesday 23 August 2022. The Modification Report can still be viewed via the Department of Planning and Environment portal.

Transport has prepared a Submissions Report responding to community and stakeholder feedback received during the exhibition.

During the exhibition period, we received 32 submissions from residents and stakeholders.

The main issues raised related to:

• noise
• traffic during construction
• shared path impacts during construction.

Major construction of the M7 widening is expected to start in the second half of 2023 and will be open to traffic in 2026.

We will keep the community informed during the detailed design phase and as we move closer into construction.

• December 2022 project notification
  Investigation and night work on the Westlink M7.
• August 2022 project notification
  Have your say on the Westlink M7 widening Modification Report.
• June 2022 project notification
  Westlink M7 Widening.