$2.6bn Sydney Gateway project reaches new construction milestone

New South Wales’ $2.6 billion Sydney Gateway development has reached a new construction milestone with the first four of 17 massive concrete headstocks installed at Mascot. 

Each headstock weighs more than a full Boeing 737 and stands at over six metres tall. The headstocks will be supporting an 800-metre flyover road that will provide motorists with a toll-free connection to Sydney Airport. 

“This is a transformative project that will get people to and from Sydney Airport faster, supporting more than 4,000 construction and manufacturing jobs, while modernising our road network. 

“This is yet another example of the NSW Government’s decade of delivery, which has transformed Greater Sydney and NSW while vastly improving quality of life for residents and businesses. 

“It is because of our strong economic management that we are able to continue to deliver both the mega projects and the smaller scale community project that make such a big difference to how people live their lives each day,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said. 

Local businesses in Western Sydney as well as regional areas within the State have played a vital role in the delivery of Sydney Gateway, beginning with the headstocks that were manufactured in Picton using steel made in Western Sydney to support 34-metre-long steel and concrete girders made in Maitland. 

“Sydney Gateway is great news for local residents also, giving them an additional three kilometres of new pedestrian and cycle paths along the Alexandra Canal. 

“Over the past decade, NSW has gone from being laggards to leaders on infrastructure and Sydney Gateway is yet another example of how we’re delivering a brighter future for NSW families,” Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said. 

Sydney Gateway artist impression (source: Seymour Whyte)

Once completed, Sydney Gateway will provide new toll-free connections from Sydney’s motorway network to the international and domestic terminals at Sydney Airport as well as provide a new route for approximately 10,000 trucks a day, diverting them away from local streets in Mascot through an alternative route. 

Sydney Gateway is anticipated to have the capacity to accommodate 100,000 vehicles daily and will reduce travel times to and from the Sydney Airport once it opens to traffic at the end of 2024. 

“One of the key features of Sydney Gateway is the landmark Australian steel arch bridge connecting to the International Terminal, that will be wider than the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

“This project will help slash travel times from Parramatta to Sydney Airport by up to 40 minutes in the morning peak, bypassing 26 sets of traffic lights. 

“In addition to the travel time savings, the Sydney Gateway will also deliver stunning Indigenous artwork and designs on the flyover, walls, underpass and paths making for an iconic entrance to Australia’s largest airport for travellers and motorists,” Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said. 

In November 2020, the joint venture between John Holland and Seymour Whyte was awarded the design and construction contract for Sydney Gateway. You can read more about the contract award here. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW; NSW Government – Sydney Gateway; Sydney Airport; Roads & Infrastructure Australia