Highway jinks solved by western spaghetti: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 17 Dec 2005: 4.
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Abstract
As of last night, it became possible to travel from Baulkham Hills in Sydney's northwest to Canberra without hitting a single traffic light. Motorists faced 48 sets before the construction of the 144 bridges, the movement of more than 15 million tonnes of earth andthe pouring of more than a million tonnes of concrete that made the M7.
The M7, which is expected to improve the traffic flow on the city's other tollways -- the M5, M4 and M2 -- is the first major plank in a 20-year plan known as Auslink, aimed at transforming the much-criticised national highway network.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma, who has suffered in the polls as a result of the public relations disaster of the Cross City Tunnel, dismissed suggestions there were similarities between it and the M7. He described the M7 as an "engineering masterpiece".
TRUCK drivers and holidaymakers travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane will now be able to avoid travelling through Sydney, cutting more than an hour off their journey, after the opening of a $1.5 billion motorway yesterday.
John Howard opened the 40km motorway, which boasts the nation's biggest spaghetti junction, and the Prime Minister declared theM7 a magnificent example of government and private sector co-operation.
As of last night, it became possible to travel from Baulkham Hills in Sydney's northwest to Canberra without hitting a single traffic light. Motorists faced 48 sets before the construction of the 144 bridges, the movement of more than 15 million tonnes of earth andthe pouring of more than a million tonnes of concrete that made the M7.
The M7, which is expected to improve the traffic flow on the city's other tollways -- the M5, M4 and M2 -- is the first major plank in a 20-year plan known as Auslink, aimed at transforming the much-criticised national highway network.
Mr Howard said the M7 would underpin the economic development of western Sydney well into the future, providing fast and efficient freight distribution to emerging industrial zones, and boosting the economies of NSW and the nation.
He said the new motorway was a testament to the spirit of "expansion, renewal and growth ... of western Sydney".
Federal Roads Minister Jim Lloyd said the purpose of Auslink was to get heavy trucks off the local suburban network and encourage industrial development.
Even before the M7 opened, he said, a number of large companies, including Coles and Woolworths, had set up national offices along the transport corridor. "There's going to be a massive change for road-users," Mr Lloyd said.
Westlink general manager Flan Cleary said the M7 would make escaping from Sydney much easier, providing a boost for regional tourism.
"Instead of spending Friday afternoon after work stuck in horrendous traffic just to get to the country, motorists can now get on thehighway and be out of town in no time," he said.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma, who has suffered in the polls as a result of the public relations disaster of the Cross City Tunnel, dismissed suggestions there were similarities between it and the M7. He described the M7 as an "engineering masterpiece".
About 12,500 people worked on the M7, which was completed eight months ahead of schedule. The federal Government provided $356 million towards the $1.5 billion cost.
The builder, Westlink Motorway Ltd, is a consortium backed by the Macquarie Infrastructure Group, Transurban, Leighton Holdingsand Abigroup.
A new highway will speed up interstate travel
QUICK LINK
* Drivers travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane can now avoid central Sydney
* The 40km link joins the M2 in Seven Hills and the M5 south of Liverpool
* It is now possible to travel from Baulkham Hills in Sydney's northwest to Canberra without traffic lights
* Motorists faced 48 sets before the M7 was built
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