The Prospect Highway is set for a $280 million upgrade that will improve safety and travel times in Sydney's west, thanks to a joint funding commitment from the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Work will start early next year on the 3.6 kilometre stretch of highway, after the contract was awarded to Fulton Hogan.
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the project will deliver improvements to travel times and safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
"The Morrison Government is funding the delivery of important road projects across Australia that improve congestion and safety including upgrading the Prospect Highway, which will make it easier for commuters to move around western Sydney," Minister Fletcher said.
"This project is one of many critical infrastructure projects to receive funding as part of our record $110 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline, which is helping to drive Australia's economic recovery.
"By alleviating congestion along key transport corridors like this one, we're helping people to get home to their families sooner and safer, we're helping freight move more quickly between our cities, and we're generating jobs across the country."
The Prospect Highway will become a divided road with two lanes in each direction between Reservoir Road at Prospect and St Martins Crescent at Blacktown, with the section north of Lancelot Street to be upgraded to a six-lane divided road, inclusive of two dedicated bus lanes.
New South Wales Minister for Transport and Roads, the Hon Rob Stokes MP, said the upgrade will improve access for local and through traffic, while cutting travel times and reducing congestion between Blacktown and the M4.
"The NSW Government is committed to delivering on its promise to upgrade the Prospect Highway between Blacktown and Prospect, and is working with the federal government on delivering this critical road for western Sydney" Minister Stokes said.
"We'll also be building new bridges over the M4 and Great Western Highway, a pedestrian underpass between Blacktown Road and Harrod Street, and a new road connecting the Great Western Highway to the Prospect Highway.
"Public transport customers will also benefit from new bus lanes between Lancelot Street and north of St Martins Crescent, demonstrating our commitment to a multi-modal approach to road upgrades."
Liberal Patron Senator for Greenway, Senator Hollie Hughes, said the upgrade will have lasting positive impacts for surrounding neighbourhoods.
"The Prospect Highway was created out of a series of local roads back in the 1980s and this upgrade has been on the drawing board for years, so the local community has waited a long time for this and they are getting some well-deserved local upgrades as a result," Senator Hughes said.
"Work is continuing on a new roundabout at Hadrian Avenue and Keyworth Drive at Prospect as well as a kiss-and-ride facility at Shelley Public School, with completion expected on both installations in the coming months."
State Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor said the Prospect Highway carries around 35,000 vehicles every day, including 5,000 heavy vehicles, and is critical for freight movement throughout Sydney.
"The speed limit on the Prospect Highway will be raised from 60 km/h to 70 km/h, while the existing shared path on the western side of the highway, between M4 Motorway and Blacktown Road, will be upgraded with resurfacing and line marking," Mr Taylor said.
"New traffic lights will be installed at Stoddart Road, Reservoir Road and the M4 Motorway eastbound entry and exit ramps, with access to Tudor Avenue, Roger Place, Vesuvius Street and Ponds Road to be changed."
Fulton Hogan is delivering the entire project, with major work starting early next year and the project expected to be completed in late 2024.
