New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
Metroad 4 (Eastern Creek to Homebush)

Metroad 4 travels from Emu Plains in Western Sydney to in the inner western suburbs of Sydney and takes in the M4 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.

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.

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 reverts back to Government control at no cost.

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.

The entire route takes in Western Motorway, Parramatta Road, City West Link, ANZAC Bridge, Western Distributor before terminating at the Bradfield Hwy and Cahill Expwy.

This section concentrates on the section of Metroad 4 between Eastern Creek and Homebush, which uses the Western Motorway.

Length (Entire):	62 km
Length (M4 Motorway):	40 km. Terminii (West) Governors Drive / Great Western Highway, Lapstone, (East) Concord Rd Concord.
Route Numbers:
Information courtesy of the SWR website & Sam Laybutt (ozroads.com.au)

Reservoir Road / M4 Interchange Blacktown
Southbound on Reservoir Road, is this sign, part of the M4 interchange.

Reservoir Road / M4 Interchange Blacktown
This bridge is the M4 passing over on Reservoir Road as you head south. The ramp is cloverleaf style and heads westbound along the M4.

Advance Exit Sign
Exit signage before the eastbound ramp to Prospect Highway, Prospect.

Exit Sign
Exit signage ar the eastbound ramp to Prospect Highway, Prospect.

Advance Exit Signage
This sign is at Wentworthvile heading east and denotes the exit to use for the central coast and Brisbane. The coverplate is over the words 'South Coast' as this was the preferred exit for Wollngong, etc. October 2005.

Eastbound at Wentworthville
Looking at the city-bound carriageway with Clunies Ross Street in the distance, April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Eastbound at Wentworthville
Approaching the Greystanes Road overpass, April 2006.

Advance Directional Sign
AD sign for the Cumberland Highway, April 2006 at the Beresford Road overpass, Wentworthville. Sign has since been replaced.

Advance Directoinal Sign
Eastbound AD sign at Wentworthville, with the Ettalong Road bridge in the distance. April 2006. Sign has since been replaced.

Cumberland Highway Interchange
Eastbound through the Cumberland Highway (former Metroad 7) interchange at Wentworthville, April 2006. Sign has since been replaced.

Cumberland Highway Interchange
Eastbound through the Cumberland Highway (former Metroad 7) interchange at Wentworthville, April 2006.

Speed Camera at Wentworthvile
Both directions are monitored for speeding under the Cumberland Highway bridge at Wentworthvile. Eastbound October 2005.

Cumberland Highway Interchange
Eastbound through the Cumberland Highway (former Metroad 7) interchange at Wentworthville, April 2006.

Distance Sign Westmead
Distance sign as you get closer to Parramatta, this is part of the section constructed by SWR, from west of Reservoir Road to Coleman Street. April 2006.

Coleman Street Overpass
Once the end of the eastern section of the Western Motorway, this is the in-bound ramp from the Great Western Highway at Mays Hill. April 2006.

Distance Sign Mays Hill
Distance sign as you get closer to Parramatta, this is on the 1980s section of motorway that was constructed from the Great Western Highway to Church Street Parramatta. April 2006. Note the unusual 'Form 4 Lanes' sign.

Eastbound at Mays Hill
Load cover reminder sign as you go east towards Parramatta. October 2005.

Footbridge
Approaching the footbridge at Mays Hill near the Burnett Street interchange, April 2006.

Advance Exit Sign
Gantry near the Pitt Street overpass, eastbound at Parramatta showing the next exit which is Church Street / Great Western Highway (SR44) and Woodville Road. October 2005.

Great Western Highway / Woodville & Parramatta Roads interchange
Eastbound at Parramatta looking at the exit to Church Street (Great Western Hwy (SR44)), Woodville Road (SR55) and Parramatta Road (SR44). April 2006.

Harris Park Viaduct
The section of M4 from Harris Park to Granville is on a bridge built in the 1980s. This is the eastbound carriageway at Harris Park approaching the James Ruse Drive Exit. Top image showing the sound walls installed in the 90s was taken October 2005 and the bottom image showing the westbound carriageway is from April 2006.

James Ruse Drive Exit
Eastbound at the exit with James Ruse Drive, Harris Park. April 2006.

James Ruse Drive Exit
Eastbound at the interchange with James Ruse Drive, Harris Park. April 2006.

James Ruse Drive Exit
Eastbound at the interchange with James Ruse Drive, Harris Park. April 2006.

Variable Speed Limit Zone Sign
Westbound on the James Ruse Drive interchange at Harris Park, this sign indicates that you are entering a section of roadway controlled by an adjustable speed limit. April 2006.

James Ruse Drive Interchange
Westbound ramp from James Ruse Drive to the M4 Motorway at Harris Park, April 2006.

James Ruse Drive Interchange
Westbound ramp passing under James Ruse Drive to the M4 Motorway at Harris Park, April 2006.

NSW First Ever 50 km/h signage
Back in the late 1980s, these signs were installed on the westbound ramp of the James Ruse Drive interchange at Harris Park. They were the first ever 50 km/h speed limit signs installed in the state. There was even TV news reports on them at the time. April 2006.

James Ruse Drive Interchange
Westbound ramp from James Ruse Drive to the M4. Note the signage gantry for the eastbound ramps. April 2006. James Ruse Drive is on the right of the safety rail.

M4 Signage on James Ruse Drive
Southbound on James Ruse Drive at Harris Park approaching the M4 interchange, April 2006.

Lane Allocation Sign
Southbound at Harris Park on James Ruse Drive, signage near Prospect Street showing lane options approaching the interchange with the M4. April 2006. Note the incorrect E series font on the sign. Should be E Modified.

Toll Charges Sign
Eastbound tolls sign at Granville on the M4. April 2006.

Assortment of Signs
Eastbound collection of signs before the tolls as you head through Silverwater. April 2006.

Lane Allocation Sign
Sign detailing cash lanes and e-tag lanes at the toll booths at Silverwater.

Approaching Toll Plaza
Photo showing entire toll plaza at Silverwater and also the e-tag lanes. April 2006.

Eastbound Toll Plaza
Looking at the toll booths at Silverwater. April 2006.

Eastbound Toll Plaza
Looking at the toll booths at Silverwater. April 2006. Looking at the cash lanes.

Westbound Toll Plaza
Image taken from the eastbound carriageway of the westbound toll booths at Silverwater, April 2006.

Toll Sign
Sign questioning if your toll has been paid, eastbound at Silverwater, just after the toll booths. April 2006.

Metroad 6 Exit
Eastbound approaching the Silverwater Road interchange at Silverwater. April 2006.

Hill Road Sign
Advance exit sign for Hill Road and Olympic Park, Homebush, April 2006.

Hill Road Exit
Eastbound through the Hill Road interchange at Homebush, April 2006.

Variable Speed Sign
Variable speed limit sign showing the full speed on this stretch of the motorway, 90 km/h and the advance exit sign for the Metroad 3 interchange, April 2006 at Homebush.

Sydney Markets Access Sign
Sign indicating best exit for the Sydney Markets at Flemington. Eastbound at Homebush, April 2006.

Northern Beaches & South Coast Sign
Sign just before the Metroad 3 exit, stating this is the best exit to use for access to Sydney's northern beaches and the NSW south coast. April 2006 at Homebush.

Approaching Metroad 3 Exit
Eastbound passing under the railway before the exit to Homebush Bay Drive (Metroad 3). April 2006.

Metroad 3 Interchange
Eastbound view of both ramps at the interchange with Homebush Bay Drive. April 2006. Homebush.