Business
8 May, 2026
$380 Million M5 Upgrade Underway
Major construction is now underway on a $380 million upgrade of the M5 Motorway aimed at eliminating dangerous lane weaving and improving traffic flow for motorists travelling from Southern NSW.
Major construction is now underway on a $380 million upgrade of the M5 Motorway aimed at eliminating dangerous lane weaving and improving traffic flow for motorists travelling from Southern NSW.
The project will focus on the westbound section of the M5 between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway — a notorious congestion point for drivers.
The current layout forces motorists into last-minute lane changes as traffic entering the motorway from Moorebank Avenue merges with vehicles attempting to exit towards the Hume Highway. The section also carries heavy freight traffic linked to the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Precinct, with more than 2,500 trucks using the corridor daily.
Under the upgrade, westbound traffic from the M5 will be separated from vehicles joining from Moorebank Avenue in an effort to reduce conflict points and improve safety.
The project includes construction of a new 300-metre three-lane bridge over the Georges River and surrounding rail lines, removal of the high-risk weaving section and additional lanes designed to eliminate the need for around 2,600 vehicles per day to cross between lanes near the Hume Highway and Moorebank Avenue interchange. A new shared pedestrian and cycling path will also be built.
Transport for NSW and Seymour Whyte Constructions are delivering the project, which is expected to be completed in 2029.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the project would make driving through the area safer and more reliable while also improving freight movement from the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said drivers were familiar with the “nightmare” of peak-hour traffic on the section.
“What this upgrade will do is take that pressure point out, giving drivers a clear run instead of forcing those last-minute merges,” she said.
Motorists can expect reduced speed limits and occasional lane closures during construction as work progresses over coming years.
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