Roadwork will take place on the M4 over the next three weeks as work begins to remove toll booths on the motorway Motorists on the M4 will no longer pay a toll when the road is handed back to the NSW government at midnight on February 15.

Acting Minister for Transport and Roads David Borger said this is great news for commuters on the M4 who have been paying a toll since 1992. “This is an historic event for the people of Sydney and in particular Western Sydney. It’s great news for around

110,000 motorists who use the M4 each weekday,” Mr Borger said.

Mr Borger said roadwork is required to realign lanes and remove linemarking. A 40kmh limit will be in place near the Auburn toll booths 24 hours a day for three weeks following the tolls removal. “The very last toll on the M4 will be collected and then from midnight the M4 will close and the RTA will begin work immediately,” Mr Borger said.

“The RTA will start work to realign the toll plaza and provide three lanes eastbound and four lanes westbound,” Mr Borger said.

The M4 will be closed to traffic in both directions on February 16 between Church Street, Parramatta and Silverwater Road, Silverwater from 12.01am to 5am. This is to ensure the safety of road users and RTA staff doing the work.

These changes are planned to be implemented within three weeks to minimise traffic impacts. Motorists are being informed of the changes through electronic message signs along the M4 as well as on the RTA’s website. Further advertising has started this week including billboards, radio and online. Motorists are urged to drive safely and stick to the speed limit as there will be traffic control on site at the toll booths until all work is completed.

It is expected there will be closures at night for four nights as lanes and line marking are changed. Once the work is finished the speed limit at the toll plaza will become 70kmh.

Work will then continue at night over the following months to remove the entire toll plaza. This is the same approach that was taken when the toll booths were removed from the Harbour Bridge.

“As with any major changes in road conditions we do expect some congestion when the toll is removed but we expect this to settle down over time. The RTA will continue to monitor the situation,” Mr Borger said. “There will also be benefits for motorists in off peak periods and at weekends.

Studies show the M4 provides a faster trip than the alternative routes throughout its entire length, even in peak periods as the M4 eliminates 40kms of intersections and 60 sets of traffic lights.

Mr Borger said that the removal of the toll means the Cashback scheme will no longer exist on the M4. Work on improvements to the M4 and its key interchanges completed ahead of the handover include:

• Changes to Homebush Bay Drive interchange – extension of the double right turn westbound to M4

• Changes to James Ruse Drive interchange – work included an extra right turn lane from the M4 westbound exit ramp to James Ruse Drive northbound and an extra through lane northbound in James Ruse Drive.

• Removal of the eastbound T2 lane on the M4 from Cumberland Highway, South Wentworthville to Church Street, Parramatta

• Installation of permanent electronic message signs and other traffic management devices.