Key features and benefits

The M2 Motorway project has been carefully planned and designed to bring significant benefits to a diverse range of people, including road users, pedestrians and members of local communities. This page outlines some of the key features and benefits of the project.

Key features

Tree plantings

Around 120,000 native seedlings were planted within the road corridor. The plants were propagated from seed collected along the road reserve prior to the start of works.

Public transport facilities

One of the major features of the M2 Motorway Project was construction of dedicated bus lanes from Beecroft Road to Windsor Road and median (centrally located) bus terminals. These lanes carry more than 17,000 bus passengers on a typical work day. Safe pedestrian access is provided via overhead walkways to the bus terminals. Bus stops can operate without interrupting the main flow of traffic along the M2 corridor. Dedicated bus ramps were also built to allow buses to exit and enter the motorway without disrupting the main flow of traffic. 

Noise Walls

Around100,000 square metres of noise walls were erected along the 21 kilometre route, the largest noise attenuation program ever undertaken on a Sydney roadway at that time. In addition, 40,000 tonnes of special noise absorbing asphalt, called open grade asphalt, has been laid along the motorway.

Key benefits

Improved road travel

Road users benefit from:

• Quicker journey times between Sydney’s north-west and the Central Sydney area.

  • Improved traffic flow, with a bypass of up to 32 sets of traffic lights. 
  • Improved traffic flow on the arterial (smaller) road network, due to reduced traffic on these roads. 
  • Less congestion on alternative routes. 
  • Access to the Sydney Orbital Road network.
• 5 major interchanges

Travel-time savings

A trip from Old Windsor Road (Parklea) to Circular Quay using the M2 Motorway would save a motorist approximately 42 minutes and bypass 32 sets of traffic signals when compared to an alternative route. (Source: www.mycommute.com.au)

Improved pedestrian safety

Pedestrians benefit from:

• Safe and efficient access across the M2. Numerous underground or overhead pedestrian ways provide access for those wishing to cross the M2.
• Reduced traffic on local streets.

Improved cyclist safety

A shared breakdown/cycle lane has been provided along the M2 Motorway.