General Information:

Westlink (M7) is an orbital route in the western, northwestern and southwestern suburbs of Sydney. It provides an uninterrupted journey between the Hills Mwy (M2), Western Mwy (M4) and Hume Motorway (M31).

The route is full freeway standard and uses distance based tolling which is collected via electronic tolling stations over the road lanes. This means motorists have a seamless journey with no slowing down or stopping for toll plazas or boom gates.

Prior to the opening of the route, it was known as the Western Sydney Orbital (WSO). M7 features a total of 17 interchanges along its route, and bypasses 48 sets of traffic lights.

Westlink also features the spectacular Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek, which was Australia's first ever full freeway to freeway interchange, allowing traffic movements in all directions. A 55 metre illuminated mast at the Light Horse Interchange honours members of Australia’s famous Light Horse Brigades. Two thousand commemorative red batons ‘sprout’ from native grasses on the median strips of both the Western Mwy and Westlink interchange approaches, signifying the predominant regimental colours of red and green. 2

Westlink (M7) was the first road in NSW to use the alphanumeric numbering system.

History:

• 1948: The County of Cumberland Planning Scheme shows a corridor for an arterial road network around the vicinity of the Westlink alignment. 3
• 1968: The Sydney Region Outline Plan also shows a corridor for an arterial road network around the vicinity of the Westlink alignment. 3
• 1974: Sydney Area Transportation Study proposed the need for an outer metropolitan highway and confirmed a corridor for its route. 3
• 1993: The Liverpool to Hornsby Highway Strategy Study Final Route was prepared to identify a preferred route for a future national highway linking the then South Western Fwy (now Hume Motorway (M31)) at Prestons with the then Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (now Pacific Motorway (M1)) at Wahroonga. 3
• April 1994: The preferred route was announced by the Commonwealth Minister for Transport. 3
• 1998: Action for Transport 2010 - An Integrated Transport Plan for Sydney identified transport projects to be completed by 2010. The plan included completion of the Westlink (M7) by 2007. 3
• January 2001: The Environmental Impact Statement for the project was placed on public exhibition. 3
• February 2002: The Minister for Planning approved the project. 3
• 17 January 2003: Westlink declared as a tollway. 1
• July 2003: Construction on the route commenced. 3
• 16 December 2005: Westlink opened to traffic. 4
• February 2037: Expected date when Westlink will be transferred to public ownership. 2

Eastern Creek to Baulkham Hills			Baulkham Hills to Eastern Creek
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Wallgrove Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Wallgrove Rd interchange in Eastern Ck, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Start M7: Start M7 sign near the Abbott Rd interchange at Winston Hills, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Creek, near Old Wallgrove Rd for the Light Horse Interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Baulkham Hills approaching Old Windsor Rd (A2) interchange, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Variable Message Sign: VMS near the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Start M7 Sign: Westlink (M7) at Baulkham Hills at the end of M2 and the start of M7. December 2005. This sign has since been removed. Image © Paul Rands
	Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Old windsor Road: Westlink (M7) at the OId Windsor Rd (A2) interchange at Baulkham Hills, October 2017. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Seven Hills Road: Seven Hills Rd overpass at Baulkham Hills, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kings Langley for the Sunnyholt Rd interchange, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Creek for the Woodstock Av interchange, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Norwest Boulevard: Norwest Blvd interchange at Kings Langley, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Rooty Hill near Eastern Rd, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kings Langley for the Sunnyholt Rd interchange, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Rooty Hill for the Woodstock Av interchange, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign with distances to interchanges in the area, Kings Langley, September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Woodstock Avenue Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the interchange with Woodstock Av in Rooty Hill, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Sunnyholt Road: Interchange with Sunnyholt Rd in Kings Langley, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Glendenning for the Richmond Rd interchange, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Sunnyholt Road: Interchange with Sunnyholt Rd in Kings Langley, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Power Street: Power St overpass at Glendenning, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: Regular RD sign at Kings Park, September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Lamb Street: Lamb St overpass at Oakhurst, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kings Park for Quakers Hill Pkwy, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Oakhurst for the Richmond Rd interchange, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Quakers Hill for Quakers Hill Pkwy, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Oakhurst, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Quakers Hill Parkway: Interchange with Quakers Hill Pkwy in Quakers Hill, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Richmond Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Richmond Rd interchange at Oakhurst, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Quakers Hill Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Quakers Hill Rd interchange, with Richmond Rd interchange AD signage, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Richmond Rd approaching the interchange and junction with Rooty Hill Rd North and Westlink (M7) at Oakhurst, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at neat Symonds Rd Dean Park for the Richmond Rd interchange, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on Richmond Rd approaching the interchange and junction with Rooty Hill Rd North and Westlink (M7) at Oakhurst, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands			Richmond Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Richmond Rd interchange at Dean Park, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on Richmond Rd at the interchange and junction with Rooty Hill Rd North and Westlink (M7) at Oakhurst, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands			Richmond Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Richmond Rd interchange at Dean Park, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Colebee, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Lane Allocation Signs: Lane allocation signage over Richmond Rd at Oakhurst, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Symonds Road: Symonds Rd overpass at Colebee, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on Richmond Rd at the interchange and junction with Rooty Hill Rd North and Westlink (M7) at Oakhurst, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Quakers Hill Parkway: Quakers Hill Pkwy overpass at Quakers Hill, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Westlink (M7) at Oakhurst, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Quakers Hill Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Quakers Hill Rd interchange, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Start Variable Speed Limit Zone: Sign denoting the use variable speed limits on Westlink (M7) at Glendenning, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	E-Tag Sign & Pedestrian Overpass: Typical E-Tag signage and pedestrian overpass at Quakers Hill, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Toll Point: Richmond Rd interchange toll point at Glendenning, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: RD sign at Kings Park, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Default Speed Limit Sign: Sign indicating the default speed limit when variable speed limit signs aren't working, at Glendenning, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kings Park for the Sunnyholt Rd interchange, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign at Glendenning, September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Click here for a photo of this sign from December 2005 with a variation in distance for Campbelltown. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kings Park for the Sunnyholt Rd interchange, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign near Lamb Rd in Glendenning for the Power St interchange, September 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Sunnyholt Road: Sunnyholt Rd interchange at Kings Park, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign at Glendenning, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kings Park for the Norwest Blvd interchange, November 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Power Street Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Power St interchange in Glendenning, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Glenwood for the Norwest Blvd interchange, November 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Rooty Hill for the interchanges with Great Western Hwy (A44) and Western Mwy (M4), September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Glenwood, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Rooty Hill for the interchange with Western Mwy (M4), November 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplementary AD sign: Supplementary advance direction sign approaching Norwest Blvd at Glenwood, October 2016. Click here for a photo from this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Creek for the interchanges with Great Western Hwy (A44) and Western Mwy (M4), November 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Norwest Boulevard Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the interchange with Norwest Blvd in Glenwood, November 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands			Variable Message Sign: VMS at Eastern Creek, showing travel times to selected interchanges, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Norwest Boulevard Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the interchange with Norwest Blvd in Glenwood, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Great Western Highway Interchange: Westlink (M7) at Eastern Creek at the interchange with Great Western Hwy (A44), September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Seven Hills Road: Westlink (M7) as it passes under Seven Hills Rd at Bella Vista, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Ck for the Light Horse Interchange with Western Mwy (M4), September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Tolling Information Sign: Tolling information sign at Bella Vista, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Bella Vista near Toongabbie Ck, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Tolling Gantry: Tolling Gantry at Baulkham Hills near Toongabbie Creek, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	End Variable Speed Zone & M7: Signs for the end of the variable speed limit zone at the terminus of M7, November 2013. Abbott Road overpass is in the distance and this is where the Hills Mwy (M2) begins. Image © Paul Rands			Light Horse Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Light Horse Interchange at Eastern Creek - the interchange with the Western Mwy (M4), December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
				Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Ck for the Wallgrove Rd Interchange, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
				Intersection Directional Signs: ID signs facing traffic coming from the westbound lanes of Western Mwy (M4) onto Westlink (M7) at Eastern Creek, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
				Wallgrove Road Interchange: Westlink (M7) at the Wallgrove Rd interchange at Eastern Creek, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
				Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Wallgrove Rd approaching the Westlink (M7) interchange and Old Wallgrove Rd at Eastern Creek, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
				Westlink & Old Wallgrove Rd Junction: ID sign at the corner of Wallgrove Rd, Old Wallgrove Rd and Westlink (M7) at Eastern Creek, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
				Distance Sign: RD sign at the Wallgrove Rd interchange at Eastern Creek, September 2013. Click here for a photo of the previous sign configuration, from December 2012. Click here for a photo of the same sign with different distances from December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
				Start Variable Speed Limit: Sign at the Wallgrove Rd interchange at Eastern Creek denoting the beginning of variable speed limit signage, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
				Motorway Entrance: The Wallgrove Rd interchange at Eastern Creek, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
				Tolling Gantry: Tolling gantry at the Wallgrove Rd interchange at Eastern Creek, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of M7 between Eastern Creek and Prestons

1 Roads & Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, August 2013.
2 Roads & Traffic Authority, Building Sydney's Motorways, M7 Motorway
3 WestLink M7, About
4 Roads & Maritime Services, Construction & Maintenance, Completed Projects

Last updated: 03-Jul-2020 12:48

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