The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have hit the go button on the next major road project for North Western Sydney, awarding contracts for design and construction for the $744 million upgrade of Richmond Road.

This builds on the $7.4 billion the Minns Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023.

As one of the major gateways to Sydney’s North West, nearly four kilometres of Richmond Road will undergo a range of improvements including adding additional lanes, installing shared paths, boosting flood resilience and providing better access to growing suburbs.

Richmond Road already carries some 70,000 cars per day and this is predicted to increase sharply in coming years. However, with this upgrade and the construction of the M7 overpass, Transport for NSW expects to see a 21 per cent improvement in the AM peak and 34 per cent improvement in the PM peak for average travel times after the upgrades are complete.

The centrepiece of the upgrade will be a new flyover bridge from the M7 Motorway Rooty Hill Road North off-ramp to Richmond Road northbound which will address traffic congestion while boosting efficiency and safety. 

Construction is due to commence at the start of 2026.

The program of works includes three projects:

• $520 million M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade
• $150 million Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade
• $74 million Richmond Road Planning project, which will investigate further investment opportunities along the corridor.

The M7 Motorway to Townson Road Upgrade will widen Richmond Road between Colebee and Marsden Park to ease congestion, improve safety and support future housing, development and connectivity of communities across Sydney’s north-west.

Around 2.2 kilometres will be upgraded from four lanes to six lanes, while a new concrete bridge over Bells Creek will include travel lanes as well as a path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The upgrade of the 1.6-kilometre stretch of Richmond Road between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road will provide better access to the growing Marsden Park community and surrounding suburbs by delivering an improved connection to Blacktown.

This upgrade will widen Richmond Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided road with a wider central median for future expansion of the road to six lanes as required.

A new bus priority signalised intersection, an extended shared path connecting to Marsden Park and improved flood resilient facilities along this bustling corridor are included in the upgrades.

New traffic lights will ease congestion and reduce delays during peak periods, while dedicated bus priority lanes will help public transport services run more efficiently and shared paths will make cycling safer and easier.

For more information visit, https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/richmond-road-upgrade-between-m7-motorway-and-townson-road-marsden-park.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“Richmond Road provides a vital link through an area of north-west Sydney that is set to undergo significant land-use and transport changes driven by rapid population growth, new housing, and expanding employment opportunities.

“The upgrade will improve access to the existing Marsden Park Industrial Precinct and future commercial and residential developments in the Marsden Park North Precinct.

“These projects build on years of planning to deliver the next tier of precinct roads that will unlock development and access new places to work and live.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This is an essential project to deliver at a time when the North West is growing rapidly. We need to improve the efficiency and safety of this important route, addressing traffic congestion and key access points for local suburbs.

“Richmond Road is a vital corridor for the communities in north-west Sydney that connects them to employment, commercial and education centres as well as being an evacuation route for the community living in the Hawkesbury-Nepean flood catchment.

“These upgrades will turbocharge the development of the region that makes the North West a better place to live for local communities.

“These upgrades will improve access to the existing Marsden Park Industrial Precinct and future commercial and residential developments in the Marsden Park North Precinct.

“The upgrade between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road has been carefully designed to improve safety, manage growth, and provide long-term resilience for the North West Growth Area.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos:

“The Minns Labor Government, together with the Albanese Labor Government, is powering ahead on works on one of the most congested roads in Western Sydney.

“The major improvements to these arterial roads will provide much needed and long-awaited relief for residents, allowing them to spend less time sitting in traffic and more time with their families.

“After the Liberals and Nationals left local families in limbo, we’re getting on with the job of delivering vital infrastructure Western Sydney deserves.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic:

“Punishing congestion has been a frustrating feature of Richmond Road for over six years now.

“Today’s a big deal because we can see how our joint Australian and NSW funding for Richmond Road is taking shape with the awarding of the construction contracts. We’re a big step closer to fixing this congestion.

“North-West Sydney is booming with new homes and businesses; the region needs the proper infrastructure to support that growth.

“And with this investment we are also a step closer to unlocking the longer-term development of the Marsden Park CBD and the jobs and amenities that will flow from that.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Member for Mt Druitt Edmond Atalla:

“This welcome investment will ease congestion, improve safety and deliver better connections for the fast-growing communities of Marsden Park, Colebee and surrounding areas.

“The addition of new lanes, a flyover from the M7, shared paths, together with a flood-resilient design, will make travel along Richmond Road safer, faster and more reliable for all road users.

“This infrastructure will keep Sydney’s north-west moving and is designed to support the region’s growth for decades to come.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali:

“The Richmond Road upgrade will improve people’s lives as we will have more home time and less road time.

“Appointing contractors is a key step forward in delivering the promised announcements by Minns and Albanese Government’s to deliver to deliver vital infrastructure for a growing community.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby:

“I left my business and entered politics largely try and deliver critical road upgrades for our growing community, including these upgrades to Richmond Road and I’m proud to be part of a government that’s getting on with the job and delivering for Western Sydney.

"This is in addition to our funded upgrades to Garfield Road East, Garfield Road West, Bandon Road, Burdekin Road/Townson Road and Windsor Road.

"For locals, they mean less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their family.

"There's more work to be done, but this is all part of our comprehensive plan to deliver better roads for the North West.”