M7 and M12 Motorways

Three interrelated road expansion projects are underway to support the future Western Sydney Aerotropolis and surrounding growth areas.

• The M12 is a brand new 16km motorway to provide direct access to the new Western Sydney International Airport.
• The M7 Motorway is being widened, from 2 lanes each way to 3, by constructing additional lanes in the wide median between the M5 Motorway and Richmond Road.
• The M7-M12 Integration project is creating a major interchange to link the M7 and M12 in Cecil Hills.

Transurban, operators of the Westlink M7, made an unsolicited proposal to the NSW Government to deliver the M7-M12 interchange if it could widen the M7 – and increase toll revenue over a longer period. As a result, both the M7 widening and the M7-M12 interchange are being constructed by Transurban at ‘no cost’ to NSW Government.

Bicycle NSW opposed the M7 widening as it would induce yet more driving and car dependency in the region and remove the possibility of the reserved median being used for public transport infrastructure.  That argument lost, we are focused on ensuring that the three projects deliver excellent active transport outcomes, in line with conditions of consent and  the Providing for Walking and Cycling in Transport Projects policy.

What is planned for bike riders?

New rest areas along the M7 shared user path

The very popular 40km M7 shared path is largely unaffected by the widening of the motorway. However, Bicycle NSW insisted that the massive investment and disruption was leveraged to improve the facilities for cyclists. As a result, 6 new rest areas will be constructed.

These are described in the 2025 M7/M12 Stage 2 Design and Landscape Plan. Unfortunately, no new drinking water fountains and no toilets are proposed along the corridor, despite two decades of requests by bike riders. Bicycle NSW continues to push for toilets and water to be included – as well as safe and comfortable detours during construction.

It is also disappointing that only minor upgrades to connectivity with adjacent suburbs were proposed by the M7 Active Transport Network Review, and none of these are in Transurban’s scope.

The M12 motorway shared user path

The M12 will have a high-quality shared path along the entire alignment. The landscape plan shows generous planted medians to separate the path users from the traffic lanes and ambitious tree canopy targets. Six rest areas will offer shade, drinking water and benches. The path will incorporate future links to the creeks flowing through the area to create a network of Green Grid corridors that will support health, wellbeing, biodiversity and tree canopy as the region’s population grows. Bicycle NSW’s submission is here.

A map showing the location of the M12 and the M7-M12 interchange. The shared user path is in blue, with fine clue lines indicating future Creekside paths heading north and south. There is more information about the project on the interactive portal.  At the eastern end, the path will take a direct route through the Western Sydney Parklands (Image: TfNSW)

By combining this path with the M7, Bringelly Road and Northern Road shared paths, Western Sydney’s bike riders will have some great new options for long loop rides. And of, course, it will be possible to reach the employment opportunities in and around the airport from many residential areas without driving. A great win for health, equity, and household budgets.

The Mirror Dam shared path to connect the M7 and M12 shared paths

At its eastern end, the M12 shared path will bypass the complex and noisy intersection with the M7. It will take a scenic route through a section of the Western Sydney Parklands which has long been difficult to access.

Bike riders will pass the new Wylde Mountain Bike Park and the Mirror Dam on beautifully designed raised board walks. This path will be a great addition to western Sydney's bike network.

However, Bicycle NSW was very concerned that no lighting was proposed. This path would not feel safe at night - which is after 5pm in the winter. And there is no alternative safe route for residents and commuters riding between the M12 and M7 shared paths.

In May 2025, after many letters and emails, it was confirmed that lighting is now in scope!

All three projects will be open by 2026 when the first planes take off from Western Sydney International.