From Monday 23rd of November motorists using Sydneys M4 will experience the route as a smart motorway, as part of a month long trial.
Technology used to create the smart motorway includes overhead gantries and ramp signals. These technologies will communicate and adjust to incidents automatically.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the $600 million M4 Smart Motorway project will provide safer and more reliable trips.
“Crews have been working hard since December 2017 to build the infrastructure needed for this amazing system, which will improve travel times for more than 150,000 vehicles using the M4 each day,” Constance said.
“This morning we saw the overhead gantries activated between Penrith and Parramatta, with the rest of the new technology being switched on over the next month to allow drivers to get used to the changes.”
He said journeys along the motorway will look quite different so drivers will need to be aware of the changed traffic conditions and are advised to take care.
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the new ramp signals and overhead gantries will improve traffic flow.
“This technology will ensure less stop-start traffic and sudden braking at some of the most congested points along the motorway,” Collins said.
“When the entire M4 Smart Motorway is operational, journey times along the M4 between Penrith and Parramatta are expected to be reduced by up to 15 minutes in the morning peak.”
The trial will run until December 13th and if successful the M4 Smart Motorway will be fully activated later in the year.
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