General Information:

Metroad 4 is the main route between the Blue Mountains and Sydney's western suburbs and Sydney's CBD. Except within the inner western suburbs of Sydney, the route parellels and in some cases uses one Australia's earliest road routes, Parramatta Road / Great Western Highway.

Road conditions vary from freeway standard through to suburban arterial. With a minimum of 2 lanes in each direction.

The route is duplexed with State Route 40 from Rozelle to Pyrmont.

• Western Motorway:

Planning began for the Western Expressway in 1947, as the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme (CCPS) was being drawn up, which included a corridor from the City of Sydney at Glebe to the Gt Western Hwy at Lapstone, passing through Glebe, Haberfield, and Five Dock before joining the current route at Concord. This corridor was reserved in 1951. 1

The first section of the M4 Motorway was from Prospect to Penrith, completed by the NSW Government in the early 1970's. Various stages of the second section from Concord to Parramatta were completed during the 80's, with a missing link of approximately 10 km between Mays Hill, near Parramatta, and Prospect to connect these two sections. 1

In 1989 the NSW Government invited proposals from private enterprise to fund and construct the missing section of roadway, and upgrading a further 11 km of the F4 Freeway. Statewide Roads Limited (SWR) won the right over a 20 year period to finance and build, and then operate and maintain the Motorway, after which the Motorway reverted back to Government control at no cost. 2

The opening of the M4 Western Motorway in May 1992 included 21 major bridge structures, and the upgrade and widening of 11 kilometres of existing expressway at a cost of $245 million. The completion of this section provided uninterrupted motorway conditions between Concord and Lapstone on the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Between 1996 to 1998 an upgrade and widening of the M4 Western Motorway to 3 lanes each way from Parramatta to Penrith was completed. 2

History:

• December 1982: Western Motorway from Concord to Melton Street Auburn was opened, it included a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge across the road at Pomeroy Street, Homebush, the first such bridge built by the DMR. 2
• May 1992: The opening of the missing link in the Western Motorway between Mays Hill and Blacktown. This included 21 major bridge structures, and the upgrade and widening of 11 kilometres of existing expressway at a cost of $245 million. The completion of this section provided uninterrupted motorway conditions between Concord and Lapstone on the foothills of the Blue Mountains. 2

Concord to South Wentworthville			South Wentworthville to Concord
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Start Western Motorway: The eastern end of the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Concord near Concord Rd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Distance sign: RD sign after the Cumberland Hwy interchange at Sth Wentworthville, April 2010. This is part of the section constructed by State Wide Roads (SWR). Image © Paul Rands
	Start Variable Speed Limit: Sign at North Strathfield indicating the beginning of the variable speed limit zone, which runs between North Strathfield and Parramatta, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Coleman Street: Coleman St interchange in Mays Hill, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Variable Speed Limit Sign: LED sign which can be changed to show a different speed limit depending on traffic conditions, North Strathfield, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign at Mays Hill, April 2010. Click here for a photo from October 2005 of the previous version of this sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Default Speed Limit Sign: Sign indicating the default speed limit within the variable speed limit zone when the signs are not working, North Strathfield, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Cover Your Load: Load cover reminder sign at Mays Hill. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Sign: Westbound on the Western Motorway at Homebush, with AD signage for Homebush Bay Drive, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Parramatta near the Pitt St overpass, for the Church St (SR44) interchange. December 2012. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Pomeroy Street Pedestrian Bridge: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Homebush approaching the Pomeroy St pedestrian bridge, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Church Street Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Church St in Parramatta, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Homebush West, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Church Street Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Church St in Parramatta, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Homebush Bay Drive & Centenary Drive Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Homebush Bay Dr and Centenary Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush West, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Church Street Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Church St in Parramatta, January 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the offramp to Homebush Bay Dr & Centenary Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush West, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Church Street Interchange: ID sign where the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange meets Church St in Parramatta, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the interchange with Homebush Bay Dr & Centenary Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush West, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Church Street Interchange: ID sign where the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange meets Church St in Parramatta, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the interchange with Homebush Bay Dr & Centenary Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush West, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Harris Park approaching the James Ruse Dr interchange, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous version of this sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Lidcombe, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			James Ruse Drive: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with James Ruse Dr at Harris Park, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous version of this sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Lidcombe approaching Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6), April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			James Ruse Drive: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with James Ruse Dr at Harris Park, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of this area. Image © Paul Rands
	Silverwater Road Interchange: Intersection directional signs at the interchange with Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) at Lidcombe, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Rosehill for Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) interchange, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) at Lidcombe, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on James Ruse Dr at Rosehill approaching Western Mwy (Metroad 4), April 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign on Western Mwy (Metroad 4) after the Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) interchange at Auburn, November 2010. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Distance Sign: RD sign at Clyde after the James Ruse Dr interchange, April 2010. Click here for a photo of the old toll charges sign and click here for another photo from April 2006 of this area. Image © Paul Rands
	Stubbs Street: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) as it passes under Stubbs St in Auburn, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Approaching Former Toll Plaza: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Silverwater approaching the former toll plaza, April 2010. Click here for a photo of the old toll sign and click here for another photo from April 2006 of this area. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on Western Mwy (Metroad 4) approaching the interchange with James Ruse Dr, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Former Toll Plaza: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Silverwater at the former toll plaza, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of this area. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Auburn for the James Ruse Dr interchange, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Former Toll Plaza: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Silverwater at the former toll plaza, April 2010. Click here and here for photos from April 2006 of this area. Image © Paul Rands
	James Ruse Drive Interchange: Intersection directional sign at the James Ruse Dr interchange at Clyde, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign near Stubbs St in Silverwater for the Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) interchange, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	James Ruse Drive Interchange: Supplemental intersection directional sign at the James Ruse Dr interchange at Clyde, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Silverwater Road Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) interchange, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of this area. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to James Ruse Dr at Clyde, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign AD sign at Newington approaching Hill Rd, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on James Ruse Dr at Rosehill at the interchange with Western Mwy (Metroad 4), April 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Hill Road Interchange: Hill Rd interchange at Homebush Bay, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Western Motorway On Ramp: Ramp from James Ruse Dr to Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Rosehill, with AD sign for eastbound ramps to the right. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Homebush Bay approaching Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3), April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	NSW First Ever 50 Speed Limit: These signs were the first 50 km/h signs erected in New South Wales, James Ruse Dr / Western Mwy (Metroad 4) interchange at Rosehill, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Homebush Bay approaching Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3), April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Western Motorway On Ramp: Ramp passing under James Ruse Dr onto Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Granville. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Homebush Bay approaching Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3), April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Western Motorway On Ramp: Ramp connecting James Ruse Dr to Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Granville. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Homebush Bay Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Granville after the James Ruse Dr interchange, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Homebush Bay Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign and last variable speed limit sign approaching Burnett St interchange at Holroyd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the offramp from Western Mwy (Metroad 4) to Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Burnett St interchange, Holroyd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Homebush Bay Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the interchange with Homebush Bay Dr (Metroad 3) at Homebush, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Holroyd, November 2010. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Pomeroy Street Pedestrian Bridge: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Homebush approaching the Pomeroy St pedestrian bridge, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Burnett St interchange, Holroyd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Homebush approaching Concord Rd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Pitt Street: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) as it passes under Pitt St in Holroyd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			End Freeway 1km: Sign indicating the end of the freeway in 1km at Homebush, April 2010. This sign has since been replaced with the current text style version. Image © Paul Rands
	Burnett Street: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the Burnett St interchange at Merrylands, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at North Strathfield approaching Concord Rd, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Coleman St interchange, Merrylands, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Exit Countdown Marker: Very rare exit countdown marker sign approaching Concord Rd at North Strathfield, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Coleman Street: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at the Coleman St interchange in Merrylands, November 2010. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Exit Countdown Marker: Very rare exit countdown marker sign approaching Concord Rd at North Strathfield, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to Coleman St in Merrylands, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			Exit Countdown Marker: Very rare exit countdown marker sign approaching Concord Rd at North Strathfield, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at the Coleman St interchange in Merrylands for the Cumberland Hwy interchange, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Concord Road Interchange: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at North Strathfield at the Concord Rd interchange, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at South Wentworthville for the Cumberland Hwy interchange, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Concord approaching Parramatta Rd (Metroad 4 / SR44), April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Cumberland Highway: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Sth Wentworthville at the interchange with Cumberland Hwy, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			End Freeway 300m: Sign indicating the end of the freeway in 300m at Concord, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to Cumberland Hwy at South Wentworthville, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley			End Freeway: End of Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Concord, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Cumberland Highway: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Sth Wentworthville at the interchange with Cumberland Hwy, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Western Mwy (Metroad 4) and Parramatta Rd (Metroad 4 / SR44) at Concord, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Cumberland Highway: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Sth Wentworthville at the interchange with Cumberland Hwy, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign on Parramatta Rd (Metroad 4) at Concord, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
				Shaftesbury Road: Corner of Parramatta Rd (Metroad 4) and Shaftesbury Rd at Concord, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of Metroad 4 between South Wentworthville and St Clair Click here for the continuation of Metroad 4 between Pyrmont and Concord

1 Sam Laybutt (Ozroads)
2 Roads and Traffic Authority

Last updated: 11:12:18 22/3/2016.

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