WESTCONNEX promises a faster ride for many motorists but residents along alternative roads through Bexley, Rockdale and Brighton-Le-Sands could become the big losers.
The updated business case for the project identified Stoney Creek Road, Princes Highway, West Botany Street and General Holmes Drive south of the M5 junction as among roads that would be worse off.
They were forecast to carry more traffic than the increase that would occur naturally without WestConnex.
This was because a distance-based toll will be introduced on the existing M5 East, which is now free. There will also be a toll on the new M5 from Kingsgrove to St Peters.
Traffic on Stoney Creek Road was forecast to increase by 74 percent, with a total of 2280 big truck movements a day — three times more than now.
This could see a return to the situation before the M5 East was built, when Bexley shopping strip was clogged with heavy vehicles.
The updated business case, which was released on Friday, compared average weekday traffic in 2012 with projected numbers in 2031, with and without WestConnex.
Most figures supported the case for the project.
Traffic on the existing M5 East was forecast to drop from about 98,000 to 49,000 vehicles a day, while the new M5 was forecast to carry 37,180.
Traffic numbers on General Holmes Drive, north of the M5, and Southern Cross Drive were also projected to be less than would occur without WestConnex, although higher than at present.
- The cost of the road project has ballooned to $16.8 billion.
"Enhancements" made to the original plans was the reason given for the $2 billion increase on that projected in the original business case in 2013.
The changes include aligning WestConnex to a future second road tunnel under Sydney Harbour at an extra cost of $1.2 billion.
A further $402 million was earmarked for the Sydney Gateway connection from St Peters interchange to Port Botany and Sydney Airport.
Other non-specified costs with enhancements amounted to $322 million.
NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said the business case presented a strong economic case for the project and daily travel time savings for thousands of motorists and road freight operators.
TRAFFIC FLOW
- Existing M5 East: Now, 98,120; without WestConnex (WC), 118,870; with WC, 49,340.
- Stoney Creek Road: Now, 23,010; without WC, 35,380; with WC, 40,360.
- Princes Highway: Now, 34,280; without WC, 49,190; with WC, 49,880.
- West Botany Street: Now, 31,490; without WC, 39,510; with WC, 41,030.
- General Homes Drive, south of M5: Now, 86,110; without WC, 104,830; with WC, 112,470.
- General Holmes Drive, north of M5: Now, 177,760; without WC, 213,640; with WC, 198,540.
- Southern Cross Drive: Now, 153,300; without WC, 192,260; with WC, 168,040.
What do you think of the traffic forecasts for the area?
