The Minns Labor Government is getting on with making Western Sydney's roads safer, awarding a contract to develop a design solution for a notorious section of the M4 Motorway.
The M4 Motorway Coleman Street to Church Street Project will focus on the busy 2.5 kilometre eastbound stretch of the motorway before the tolled section of the motorway at Parramatta.
Transport for NSW has awarded Arup the contract to commence early concept design development for the project to identify safety improvement solutions for this section.
This is being investigated in response to an increase in crashes at the Church Street off ramp following the opening of the M4 Widening Project (Stage 1A of WestConnex).
The Church Street off-ramp is the last exit before the start of eastbound tolling and provides access to the toll-free route along Parramatta Road.
Reviews into this section of road have identified an increase in traffic volumes and safety incidents on approach to the Church Street off-ramp.
Between the review period of 2017 and 2022, there were 307 crashes between Coleman Street and Church Street with 244 of these - or 80 per cent - occurring on the eastbound lanes.
Of these, 45 were serious crashes with four fatalities recorded.
A series of interim measures have been put in place since 2017 along the project area in response to the severity of crashes.
These include the upgrade of the Church Street off-ramp in December 2019 and the upgrade of the Woodville Road, Parramatta Road and Church Street intersection in November 2022.
Additional work has also been carried out on the M4 Motorway on-ramp at Church Street.
This included Smart Motorway ramp metering which was activated in July 2023 to control the flow of traffic entering the motorway from Woodville Road, Church Street and Parramatta Road via the Church Street on-ramp.
Further updates on the M4 Motorway Coleman Street to Church Street Project and community consultation opportunities will be announced as the project progresses next year.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:
"Our priority is making sure every driver gets home safely.
"This work is about fixing a problem that has been getting worse for years. The Minns Labor Government is taking action now because we refuse to ignore the clear safety risks on this critical section of the motorway.
"We've already delivered interim safety measures, but what's needed now is a long-term, evidence-based solution. By progressing this design work, we are putting safety at the heart of our decision-making and charting a path to reduce crashes, improve traffic flow and future-proof this part of the network."
Acting Minister for Western Sydney, Courtney Houssos said:
"For too long, this section of the M4 has been a source of frustration and risk for motorists and this milestone marks an inportant step toward a safer, more efficient motorway for Western Sydney.
"The former Liberal National government failed to provide the roads and infrastructure needed to keep up with rapidly growing communities, leaving local families in the lurch for over a decade.
"Today's announcement is another example of how the Minns Labor Government is building better roads for Western Sydney."
Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said:
"I welcome the development of a design solution for the M4 Motorway between Coleman and Church Streets to make the M4 safer for everyone who uses it.
"By tackling the area between Coleman and Church Streets, we are working on a solution to protect lives and improve traffic flow on one of Sydney's busiest motorways.
"The aim of the M4 Motorway between Coleman Street and Church Street Project is to design a solution that reduces crashes and congestion to make the commute safer for everyone along this busy stretch of the motorway.
"Safer exits, better traffic flow, and fewer delays will benefit families, workers and businesses across the west."
