Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Western Motorway, Victoria Road and Western Distributor
Lapstone to Prospect
Statistics:
- Length:
- 56 km (Lapstone to Prospect: 28 km)
- Termini:
- Eastern: Great Western Hwy (A32) and Governors Dr, Lapstone
- Western: Western Dist (unnumbered) and Bathurst St (unnumbered), Pyrmont
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Lapstone, Emu Plains, Leonay, Regentville, Jamisontown, Glenmore Park, Orchard Hills, Claremont Meadows, St Marys, St Clair, Colyton, Erskine Park, Minchinbury, Eastern Creek, Huntingwood, Blacktown and Prospect
Route Numbering:
- Current: M4
- Former: 4 32 F4
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 6004 (Lapstone to Concord)
General Information:
M4 / A4 is the main route between the Blue Mountains, Sydney's western suburbs and Sydney's CBD. Except within the inner western suburbs of Sydney, the route parallels one of Australia's earliest road routes, Parramatta Road / Great Western Highway.
Road conditions vary from freeway standard, tunnels, through to suburban arterial. With a minimum of 3 lanes in each direction.
Planning began for the Western Expressway in 1947, as the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme (CCPS) was being drawn up, which included a corridor from the City of Sydney at Glebe to the Gt Western Hwy at Lapstone, passing through Glebe, Haberfield, and Five Dock before joining the current route at Concord. This corridor was reserved in 1951. 2
The first section of the M4 Motorway was from Prospect to Penrith, completed by the NSW Government in the early 1970's. Various stages of the second section from Concord to Parramatta were completed during the 80's, with a missing link of approximately 10 km between Mays Hill, near Parramatta, and Prospect to connect these two sections. 2
In 1989 the NSW Government invited proposals from private enterprise to fund and construct the missing section of roadway, and upgrading a further 11 km of the F4 Freeway. Statewide Roads Limited (SWR) won the right over a 20 year period to finance and build, and then operate and maintain the Motorway, after which the Motorway reverted back to Government control at no cost. 3
The opening of the M4 Western Motorway in May 1992 included 21 major bridge structures, and the upgrade and widening of 11 kilometres of existing expressway at a cost of $245 million. The completion of this section provided uninterrupted motorway conditions between Concord and Lapstone on the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Between 1996 to 1998 an upgrade and widening of the M4 Western Motorway to 3 lanes each way from Parramatta to Penrith was completed. 3
History:
- 11 October 1971: The first section of the Western Motorway, a small three mile section near the Nepean River at Regentville, opened. This included Regentville Bridge across Nepean River. 3
- 20 December 1972: A further nine-mile section of the Western Motorway opened. It was also the first state road to have the new maximum speed limit of 110 km per hour. 3
- 2 September 1972: The Western Distributor was opened in stages from this date, until February 1973. 2
- 1974: Western Freeway extended to Great Western Hwy at Huntingwood. 2
- 1985: Duplication of Regentville Bridge over Nepean River. 4
- June 1986: A full diamond interchange was opened to traffic at Mulgoa Rd at Regentville. 2
- July 1986: West-facing ramps at Mamre Rd at St Marys and east-facing ramps at Roper Rd Erskine Park were opened to traffic. 2
- August 1986: The duplication of the Regentville Bridge over the Nepean River opened to traffic. 2
- May 1992: The opening of the missing link in the Western Motorway between Mays Hill and Blacktown. This included 21 major bridge structures, and the upgrade and widening of 11 kilometres of existing expressway at a cost of $245 million. The completion of this section provided uninterrupted motorway conditions between Concord and Lapstone on the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
- June 1992: East facing ramps were opened to traffic at Wallgrove Rd. 2
- June 1993: The freeway extension between Lapstone and Emu Plains was opened to traffic. 2
- 1996: Commencement of an upgrade and widening of the M4 Western Motorway to 3 lanes each way from Parramatta to Penrith. This was completed in 1998.
- 1997: East-facing ramps were constructed at Mamre Rd St Marys. 2
- 16 December 2005: The interchange with Westlink (M7) opened to traffic. 5
- February 2010: Tolls removed from Western Motorway. 2
- May 2017: New east facing ramps constructed at Kent Rd Orchard Hills as part of Stage 1 of the Werrington Arterial project. 6
- November 2017: Construction of the new SPUI interchange of The Northern Rd (A9) and Western Mwy (M4) begins. 7
- December 2017: Work begins on stage 1 of M4 Smart Motorway project between Westlink (M7) and Roper Rd. The Smart Motorway system involves variable messaging signs, ramp metering and variable speed limits. 8
- May 2018: Stage 1 of M4 Smart Motorway works extended to Reservoir Rd interchange. 7
- 2020: Completion of M4 Smart Motorway project. 9
Lapstone to Prospect
Start M4:
End of A32 and the beginning of M4 at Glenbrook, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Russell Street (A44) and Leonay Parade at Glenbrook, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Russell Street & Leonay Parade Interchange:
Western Motorway (M4) at the interchange with Russell St and Leonay Pde in Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off ramp to Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde at Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the off ramp to Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde at Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the off ramp to Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde at Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Prospect to Lapstone
Clunies Ross Street:
Western Mwy (M4) at Clunies Ross St overpass, Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Prospect Highway:
Western Mwy (M4) at Prospect Hwy, Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Services Sign:
Services sign next Prospect Hwy overpass at Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Reservoir Rd, Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Reservoir Rd, Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reservoir Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at the Reservoir Rd interchange, Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Services Sign:
Services sign at Prospect, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Eastern Creek approaching Westlink (M7) and Wallgrove Rd (Lighthorse Interchange), December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Service Centre:
Western Mwy (M4) at the Eastern Creek Service Centre, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Eastern Creek approaching Westlink (M7) and Wallgrove Rd (Lighthorse Interchange), December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Eastern Creek approaching Westlink (M7) and Wallgrove Rd (Lighthorse Interchange), December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Eastern Creek approaching Westlink (M7) and Wallgrove Rd (Lighthorse Interchange), December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Westlink Exit:
Western Mwy (M4) at Westlink (M7) at Eastern Ck, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Westlink Exit:
Western Mwy (M4) at Westlink (M7) at Eastern Ck, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Wallgrove Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at Wallgrove Rd exit, Eastern Ck, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Eastern Creek, December 2015. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Mak from December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Eastern Ck approaching Roper Rd and Erskine Pk Rd, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Eastern Ck approaching Roper Rd and Erskine Pk Rd, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Archibold Road:
Western Mwy (M4) passing under Archibold Rd at Eastern Ck, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Erskine Park Road & Roper Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at the Erskine Pk Rd and Roper Rd interchange at Erskine Park, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Erskine Park Road & Roper Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at the Erskine Pk Rd and Roper Rd interchange at Erskine Park, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at St Clair, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Bennett Road:
Western Mwy (M4) passing under Bennett Rd at St Clair, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at St Clair approaching Mamre Rd, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Mamre Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at the Mamre Rd interchange, St Clair, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off ramp to Mamre Rd, St Clair, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Signs:
ID signs on the off ramp to Mamre Rd, St Clair, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Orchard Hills approaching Kent Rd interchange, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Kent Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at Kent Rd, Orchard Hills, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Orchard Hills approaching The Northern Rd (A9) interchange, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Orchard Hills approaching The Northern Rd (A9) interchange, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Orchard Hills approaching The Northern Rd (A9) interchange, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Orchard Hills approaching The Northern Rd (A9) interchange, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
The Northern Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at The Northern Rd (A9) at Orchard Hills, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Glenmore Park approaching Mulgoa Rd, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Glenmore Park approaching Mulgoa Rd, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Glenmore Pk approaching Mulgoa Rd, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Mulgoa Road:
Western Mwy (M4) at the Mulgoa Rd interchange at Regentville, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign near Nepean River at Regentville, approaching Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Russell Street & Leonay Parade:
Western Mwy (M4) at the interchange with Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde at Leonay, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Leonay on the off ramp to Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the off ramp to Russell St (A44) and Leonay Pde at Leonay, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
End M4 / Start A32 2 km:
Trailblazer indicating change of route number in 2 km, Leonay, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
End Motorway 1 km:
Sign indicating end of motorway in 1 km at Leonay, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Leonay, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Tourism based distance sign at Leonay, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Western Mwy (M4) approaching Great Western Hwy (A32) and Governors Dr at Lapstone, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
End M4 / Start A32:
The western terminus of M4 at Lapstone, October 2017. The road becomes Great Western Hwy (A32) at this location.
Image © Paul Rands
2 Sam Laybutt (ozroads.com.au).
3 Roads & Traffic Authority.
4 Penrith City Council.
5 Roads & Maritime Services, Construction & Maintenance, Completed Projects.
6 Conrad Zalewski.
7 Leo Giusti.
8 Jason Kumar.
9 Roads & Maritime Services, Projects, M4 Smart Motorway project.