M4 > CONSTRUCTION
1988-1992 Project
Upgrade Existing Motorway
The 6 kilometre length of motorway from Homebush Bay Drive to James Ruse Drive was widened from four lanes to six lanes with shoulders to increase traffic capacity. The existing areas from Concord to Homebush Bay Drive and from Church Street, Parramatta to Coleman Street, May's Hill, were repaired and overlaid with open grade asphalt.
| New Construction The "missing link" from May's Hill to Prospect was constructed. This section was approximately 10 kilometres of four lane carriageway incorporating interchanges at Cumberland Highway, Prospect Highway and Reservoir Road, with connections to the existing motorway at each end. |
Toll Plazas
The toll plazas, situated at Auburn, were opened with 9 lanes in each direction, providing for payment in cash to toll plaza attendants or by using automatic coin machines. Prepaid customer accounts were also available
Service Centres
Service Centres were constructed in each direction on the main carriageway at Prospect, providing fuel, food and convenience outlets. Caltex, McDonald's and Red Rooster service the needs of motorists.
1996-1998 Project
Upgrade and Widening
The motorway was upgraded and widened along the length from Parramatta to Penrith. This involved the construction of an additional 70 lane kilometres to widen the road from four to six lanes, and in some areas 8 lanes. At the time, this project was the largest ever upgrade of an Australian motorway under traffic involving the placement of some 250,000 tonnes of asphalt, together with ancillary works.
Toll Plazas
Throughput was increased with the introduction of "Tollpass", a tag device inserted into a reader at the toll gate.
2002-2003 Project
Electronic Tolling
In a 3 month period from October 2002 to January 2003 SWR fast tracked the introduction of electronic tolling to the M4. Two lanes of non-stop dedicated electronic tolling replaced three cash and Tollpass lanes in each direction. This increased hourly toll plaza capacity by more than 30%.