General Information:

Westlink (M7) is an orbital route in the western, northwestern and southwestern suburbs of Sydney. It provides an uninterrupted journey between the Hills Mwy (M2), Western Mwy (M4) and Hume Motorway (M31).

The route is full freeway standard and uses distance based tolling which is collected via electronic tolling stations over the road lanes. This means motorists have a seamless journey with no slowing down or stopping for toll plazas or boom gates.

Prior to the opening of the route, it was known as the Western Sydney Orbital (WSO). M7 features a total of 17 interchanges along its route, and at the time of opening, bypassed 48 sets of traffic lights.

Westlink also features the spectacular Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek, which was Australia's first ever full freeway to freeway interchange, allowing traffic movements in all directions. A 55 metre illuminated mast at the Light Horse Interchange honours members of Australia's famous Light Horse Brigades. Two thousand commemorative red batons 'sprout' from native grasses on the median strips of both the Western Mwy and Westlink interchange approaches, signifying the predominant regimental colours of red and green. 2

Westlink (M7) was the first road in NSW to use the alphanumeric numbering system.

History:

• 1948: The County of Cumberland Planning Scheme shows a corridor for an arterial road network around the vicinity of the Westlink alignment. 3
• 1968: The Sydney Region Outline Plan also shows a corridor for an arterial road network around the vicinity of the Westlink alignment. 3
• 1974: Sydney Area Transportation Study proposed the need for an outer metropolitan highway and confirmed a corridor for its route. 3
• 1993: The Liverpool to Hornsby Highway Strategy Study Final Route was prepared to identify a preferred route for a future national highway linking the then South Western Fwy (now Hume Motorway (M31)) at Prestons with the the then Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (now Pacific Motorway (M1)) at Wahroonga. 3
• April 1994: The preferred route was announced by the Commonwealth Minister for Transport. 3
• 1998: Action for Transport 2010 - An Integrated Transport Plan for Sydney identified transport projects to be completed by 2010. The plan included completion of the Westlink (M7) by 2007. 3
• January 2001: The Environmental Impact Statement for the project was placed on public exhibition. 3
• February 2002: The Minister for Planning approved the project. 3
• 17 January 2003: Westlink declared as a tollway. 1
• July 2003: Construction on the route commenced. 3
• 16 December 2005: Westlink opened to traffic. 4
• February 2037: Expected date when Westlink will be transferred to public ownership. 2

1 Roads & Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, August 2013.
2 Roads & Traffic Authority, Building Sydney's Motorways, M7 Motorway
3 WestLink M7, About
4 Roads & Maritime Services, Construction & Maintenance, Completed Projects

Last updated: 05-Jan-2019 12:41

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