VIDEO: 'Incredible progress' on New M5 which is on track to open in early 2020

Twin tunnels from Kingsgrove to St Peters are due to open in early 2020.

New M5 director Ken Reynolds said “incredible progress” had been made in the first year on the project, which would enable motorists to travel from Beverly Hills to St Peters in peak periods in about 10 minutes.

Mr Reynolds said an important stage of work had just been completed, with 100 concrete planks installed for the roof of the east-bound tunnel portal.

“There are around 1500 workers on site every day, and the project remains on track with construction activity under way at all sites, and work for the local road upgrades progressing,” he said.

Mr Reynolds said, since tunnelling began last year. more than 280,000 tonne of material had been excavated.

“Access tunnels across all four sites – St Peters, Arncliffe, Bexley and Kingsgrove – have reached the mainline, so work can progress to build the twin nine kilometre tunnels from Kingsgrove to St Peters,” he said.

“More than half of the 16 roadheaders which will be in action at the peak of construction are now in the ground, with 10 machines working around the clock within the mainline tunnels.” 

Mr Reynolds said the project had created “significant economic opportunities”.

“In the past 12 months almost 40,000 cubic metres of concrete has been poured, and more than 5,500 tonnes of steel has been used across the project – all sourced from Australian suppliers,” he said.

Mr Reynolds said more than 300 sub-contractors and almost 400 businesses had signed contracts to complete jobs such as piling, traffic control management, and geotechnical work.

“This number will continue to rise as work ramps up creating more opportunities for western Sydney to thrive,” he said.