The Sydney Gateway is a planned major road interchange between the WestConnex and the airport terminals of Sydney Airport. Construction is expected to begin in early 2021 and be open in late 2023, in conjunction with the M4–M5 Link. The Sydney Gateway will also be constructed in conjunction with the duplication of the nearby Port Botany freight rail line, which is managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. Upon completion, the Sydney Gateway will connect the Sydney Motorway Network with the Sydney Airport and Port Botany precincts via St Peters Interchange. The completed project is expected to provide improved road links between the airport and Port Botany and reduce congestion.
Alignment
The Sydney Gateway starts at the St Peters Interchange, the junction of the M8 Motorway and M4–M5 Link, all of which are being built as part of WestConnex. Viaducts will be built over Canal Road, the Port Botany freight rail line and Tempe Lands. Further southwest, the Sydney Gateway splits into two, leading to Airport Drive and Qantas Drive towards the west and east respectively. A section of Airport Drive will be closed permanently and traffic will have to use Sydney Gateway to access between the international and domestic terminals. A one-way elevated road will also be built linking Qantas Drive towards the Sir Reginald Ansett Drive and the domestic terminals precinct, bypassing two signalised intersections with Seventh Street and O'Riordan Street. This enables travel from St Peters Interchange to the domestic terminals without stopping at a single traffic light.
History
Planning
In November 2017, the project was in the design and planning phase that includes developing connections to the St Peters interchange, to Sydney Airport Terminals 1, 2and 3, grade separation of Robey Street and O’Riordan Street in, the duplication of a section of the Port Botany Rail Line, within a complex stakeholder environment, with significant utility assets impacted and a heavily congested area. A 2017 proposal by Lendlease was not accepted. The rail line duplication was eventually removed from the scope of Sydney Gateway. The proposed alignment passes over Sydney Airport land, which is leased from the Commonwealth government. As such, the project must undergo both state and Commonwealth planning processes. In addition to an Environmental Impact Statement as required by state planning process, a Major Development Plan is also required before major development at a leased airport can occur. Planning approvals from both the federal and state planning ministers are also required. A combined EIS and MDP was released for exhibition on 20 November 2019.
Construction
Expressions of interest to construct the Sydney Gateway commenced in July 2019. In October 2019, three shortlists were announced:
Construction is expected to begin in early 2021 and be open in late 2023.
Tolls
The completed roadway will be toll-free. However, this only applies to traffic between Airport Drive and Qantas Drive, as any traffic entering St Peters Interchange must also enter the WestConnex tunnels and pay WestConnex tolls.
