NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020

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Hubert Lam

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Feb 11, 2020, 7:55:39 AM2/11/20
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Jason Kumar

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Mar 9, 2020, 1:51:39 AM3/9/20
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New eastbound signs up on the M5 now approaching new tunnel. Seems like the old M5 tunnel will be signed M5. The new signs are covered, so wonder what's under those covers then! Seems like there is a route number.

Jason

On Tue, Feb 11, 2020 at 11:55 PM Hubert Lam <hub...@lamfamily.info> wrote:

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Musa Hodzic

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Mar 13, 2020, 3:08:52 AM3/13/20
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Hubert Lam

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Mar 14, 2020, 12:30:34 AM3/14/20
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Not so sure about New M5 to be opening in mid 2020 - their progress bar seems to have been pushed back to late 2020....

image.png

Jason Kumar

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Mar 14, 2020, 10:17:10 PM3/14/20
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I haven't been to the St Peters end lately, but the western end seems pretty much done. They just need to line mark the westbound section and clean-up. The eastbound section is pretty much line marked and ready to go.
Now the M4 East sat like that for a good few months as well, so there might be some tunnel testing that needs to be done.

Jason.

Nihat

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Mar 14, 2020, 11:22:53 PM3/14/20
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yeah probably all the visual stuff is done but testing and commissioning all the electrical will take time. then theres discussing with the govt about opening dates etc. i am just hoping on this occasion there will be a toll free period unlike what happened with the m4 east. that would have helped a lot with drivers getting confused and stopping etc  

Hubert Lam

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Mar 17, 2020, 8:35:26 AM3/17/20
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Before the M4 East opened, there was a community day which our family was fortunate to visit (and enjoy an excellent lunch - there were stalls there serving food which was effectively all you can eat!)

That Community Day may or may not happen depending on the current COVID-19 situation..... but it was a good 2 months before actual opening from memory.

aussieh...@gmail.com

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Mar 20, 2020, 10:33:03 AM3/20/20
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This new sign says "TOLL A5":


A5.jpg


Sorry about the quality – it's a crop from a night dashcam screenshot. I'll try to get another picture in the daytime so it's actually legible.

On Tuesday, 11 February 2020 23:55:39 UTC+11, Hubert wrote:

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Mar 20, 2020, 8:04:29 PM3/20/20
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Here's a daytime image of the A5 sign that's actually legible.
A5.jpg

Hubert Lam

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Mar 27, 2020, 12:58:26 AM3/27/20
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Drove past the M2/A28 junction in the north bound direction today.

There's a sign that's covered up - the road name is NORTHCONNEX. 

No route marker :( 

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Daniel Knott

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Mar 27, 2020, 1:53:33 AM3/27/20
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Hubert Lam

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Mar 30, 2020, 5:14:31 PM3/30/20
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The lack of route numbering is disappointing for the NCX. 

IMG_20200331_081254.jpg

Sam Laybutt

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Mar 30, 2020, 8:42:00 PM3/30/20
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Concerning...


From: aussie-...@googlegroups.com <aussie-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Hubert Lam <hub...@lamfamily.info>
Sent: Tuesday, 31 March 2020 5:14 AM
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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
 

Jason Kumar

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Mar 30, 2020, 9:04:01 PM3/30/20
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M7 Cumberland Motorway would be nice (I think suggested by someone here previously) - joining into the existing M7 (and re-introducing the M2/M7 duplex).

Jason

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DrazPhlaz

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Mar 30, 2020, 9:23:29 PM3/30/20
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At least “to M1 / to M2” respectively would’ve been nice. This is just lazy

Musa Hodzic

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Apr 1, 2020, 9:07:04 PM4/1/20
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Disappointing indeed! I like the M7 idea.

On Tue, 31 Mar 2020 at 12:23, DrazPhlaz <harrison...@gmail.com> wrote:
At least “to M1 / to M2” respectively would’ve been nice. This is just lazy

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Nihat

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Apr 2, 2020, 1:19:09 AM4/2/20
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Drove yesterday and the tunnel warning height signs at the m1 southbound and at the pennant hills rd northern interchange tunnel entrance there is a reference to "m1 tunnel". One can presume from this that it will be routed as M1 and then duplexed with M2 eastbound until reaching the Gore Hill Freeway. The Pacific Hwy through Gordon would then by signed as A11 as we have noted here previously. 

I'll try and get pictures over the weekend 

Sam Laybutt

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Apr 2, 2020, 1:26:25 AM4/2/20
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Based on the M7 experience, I'm almost expecting M1 to disappear between the end of NorthConnex and the Pacific Hwy/Gore Hill Fwy interchange. I hope not!

I may have posted this before, but ideally M2 disappears completely and gets replaced by M1 east of NorthConnex and M7 west of NorthConnex. It could later be reintroduced as the number for the Castlereagh Freeway. 


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Sent: Thursday, 2 April 2020 1:18 PM

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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020

Jason Kumar

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Apr 2, 2020, 2:14:15 AM4/2/20
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There's also the case of the traffic light at the current M2 / Pennant Hills Rd interchange (probably more so northbound) if they route the M1 down this way.

Jason.

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ed24f1

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Apr 2, 2020, 3:50:02 AM4/2/20
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I understand why A1 never was but I am wondering whether A11 should be extended southbound along the Pacific Hwy from Lane Cove to North Sydney? St Leonards, Crows Nest and North Sydney are all fairly major destinations.

I'm also unsure why they installed the signage at the A3/A1 intersection not that long ago without coverplates - clearly the A11 plan has been known for a while considering when that sign was uncovered.


Hubert Lam

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Apr 2, 2020, 5:00:17 AM4/2/20
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The strange bit was that at the southern tunnel portal (southbound) there's a sign directing drivers exiting the NorthConnex on to either A28 Pennant Hills Road or M2 Motorway, but not the duplexed M1/M2 :( 

On Thu, Apr 2, 2020 at 4:26 PM Sam Laybutt <crazykn...@hotmail.com> wrote:
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Alex Csar

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Apr 2, 2020, 6:27:45 AM4/2/20
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Bit of a crazy thought, and it might have been mentioned before, but maybe the A6 becomes the new A1, with the existing M1/A1 sections replaced by the new A11, am extended M2 and M5 and a new M6/A6 that plays with the new name for the old Southern Freeway corridor. Who knows?

Cheers,
Alex.

Hubert Lam

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Apr 2, 2020, 11:14:46 AM4/2/20
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The northbound single lane section on Marsden Road would kill it off 😂

M28 is a contender as well. But still doesn't solve the M1/A1 disappearing at Pacific Highway Wahroonga. 

DrazPhlaz

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Apr 4, 2020, 3:27:13 AM4/4/20
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If they bypassed carlingford and marsden road from the m2 to silverwater rd the A6 would be a very good contender for a Newcastle-Wollongong A1 bypass

Richard Ho

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Apr 4, 2020, 4:56:05 AM4/4/20
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On Thursday, 2 April 2020 16:26:25 UTC+11, crazyknightsfan wrote:
Based on the M7 experience, I'm almost expecting M1 to disappear between the end of NorthConnex and the Pacific Hwy/Gore Hill Fwy interchange. I hope not!

I may have posted this before, but ideally M2 disappears completely and gets replaced by M1 east of NorthConnex and M7 west of NorthConnex. It could later be reintroduced as the number for the Castlereagh Freeway. 

...and the current A2 along Old Windsor/Windsor Road becomes an extension of A40, perhaps? 

Hubert Lam

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Apr 4, 2020, 9:57:27 AM4/4/20
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The eastern end is hardly done :( 

Did my socially distanced bike ride over to the Gardeners Road side today.

image.png

The Kent/Gardeners Road intersection is meant to become a signalised intersection. In fact, Gardeners Road east of the Kent Road intersection is still half dug up, and no sign of traffic lights going in 😅 No signage either anywhere to indicate that heading west on Gardeners Road would lead to the new motorway.

On Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 1:17 PM Jason Kumar <jas...@gmail.com> wrote:
I haven't been to the St Peters end lately, but the western end seems pretty much done. They just need to line mark the westbound section and clean-up. The eastbound section is pretty much line marked and ready to go.
Now the M4 East sat like that for a good few months as well, so there might be some tunnel testing that needs to be done.

Jason.

On Sat, Mar 14, 2020 at 3:30 PM Hubert Lam <hub...@lamfamily.info> wrote:
Not so sure about New M5 to be opening in mid 2020 - their progress bar seems to have been pushed back to late 2020....

image.png

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 6:08 PM Musa Hodzic <musah...@gmail.com> wrote:
Wow, sounds exciting Jason.

On Mon, 9 Mar 2020, 16:51 Jason Kumar, <jas...@gmail.com> wrote:
New eastbound signs up on the M5 now approaching new tunnel. Seems like the old M5 tunnel will be signed M5. The new signs are covered, so wonder what's under those covers then! Seems like there is a route number.

Jason

ed24f1

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Apr 5, 2020, 3:20:50 AM4/5/20
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I had a look at the North Connex northern interchange today around Pearces Corner. Most signs covered but the wind was revealing parts of them. Couldn't see a route marker on the southbound AD approaching the intersection - however could only glimpse the left hand side of the sign.  

The height restriction signs appeared to be inconsistent - the northbound one on PHR says North Connex and the uncovered one on the onramp says M1 Tunnel.

ed24f1

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Apr 9, 2020, 4:43:50 AM4/9/20
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On Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 5:20:50 PM UTC+10, ed24f1 wrote:
> I had a look at the North Connex northern interchange today around Pearces Corner. Most signs covered but the wind was revealing parts of them. Couldn't see a route marker on the southbound AD approaching the intersection - however could only glimpse the left hand side of the sign.  
>
>
>
> The height restriction signs appeared to be inconsistent - the northbound one on PHR says North Connex and the uncovered one on the onramp says M1 Tunnel.

Had another look today (the area is in exercising distance from where I live) and got some photos this time.
20200409_172615.jpg
20200409_173516.jpg
20200409_173917.jpg
20200409_173928.jpg

Sam Laybutt

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Apr 9, 2020, 5:28:58 AM4/9/20
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Interesting photos!


From: aussie-...@googlegroups.com <aussie-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of ed24f1 <ed2...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, 9 April 2020 4:43 PM
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Subject: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
 

Hubert Lam

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Apr 9, 2020, 10:22:19 AM4/9/20
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There's still just that little glimmer of hope that it could be numbered M1. 😂

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Hubert Lam

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Apr 11, 2020, 3:10:06 AM4/11/20
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Rode a very socially distanced bike ride past St Peters Interchange (Campbell Rd/Princes Highway) today. 

I'm pretty certain that this won't be opened in a hurry - "mid 2020" sounds like August 2020 at the earliest, judging from the lack of covered up signage around the area. 

On Mon, 9 Mar 2020, 4:51 pm Jason Kumar, <jas...@gmail.com> wrote:
New eastbound signs up on the M5 now approaching new tunnel. Seems like the old M5 tunnel will be signed M5. The new signs are covered, so wonder what's under those covers then! Seems like there is a route number.

Jason

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Brendan Terrett

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Apr 12, 2020, 11:25:15 AM4/12/20
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I drove west on the M5 the other day and didn't notice that A5 sign. Perhaps they've already fixed it with a coverplate?

M8 does make sense - in the long run, it'll hook up to Beaches Link and all be lovely and dandy. I just wonder what the heck is going to happen to the gap in between.

We might have an M1/M8 duplex between the Warringah Freeway and St Peters by the end of the decade. 

Hubert Lam

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Apr 12, 2020, 9:20:24 PM4/12/20
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Route 8 will be the only one, when the "New M5" opens, that is disjointed in the middle with the current A8 ending at Falcon St/Warringah Freeway junction. 

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Sam Laybutt

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Apr 13, 2020, 2:19:45 AM4/13/20
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It's going to be extremely weird having a Motorway (Beaches Link) transition directly into Wakehurst Parkway which is unnumbered. Surely A8 is moved onto Wakehurst Parkeay when that happens and Pittwater/Condamine/Spit renumbered

From: aussie-...@googlegroups.com <aussie-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Hubert Lam <hub...@lamfamily.info>
Sent: Monday, 13 April 2020 9:20 AM
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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
 

LucarioXPT

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Apr 13, 2020, 3:54:55 AM4/13/20
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Potentially the Wakehurst Parkway takes the A8 between Narrabeen and Frenchs Forest. Harking back to the Metroad days, the current A8 between Mona Vale and North Sydney becomes the A10? 


On Monday, April 13, 2020 at 4:19:45 PM UTC+10, crazyknightsfan wrote:
It's going to be extremely weird having a Motorway (Beaches Link) transition directly into Wakehurst Parkway which is unnumbered. Surely A8 is moved onto Wakehurst Parkeay when that happens and Pittwater/Condamine/Spit renumbered

From: aussie-...@googlegroups.com <aussie-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Hubert Lam <hub...@lamfamily.info>
Sent: Monday, 13 April 2020 9:20 AM
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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
 
Route 8 will be the only one, when the "New M5" opens, that is disjointed in the middle with the current A8 ending at Falcon St/Warringah Freeway junction. 

On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 1:25 AM Brendan Terrett <mubd...@gmail.com> wrote:
I drove west on the M5 the other day and didn't notice that A5 sign. Perhaps they've already fixed it with a coverplate?

M8 does make sense - in the long run, it'll hook up to Beaches Link and all be lovely and dandy. I just wonder what the heck is going to happen to the gap in between.

We might have an M1/M8 duplex between the Warringah Freeway and St Peters by the end of the decade. 

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DrazPhlaz

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Apr 13, 2020, 7:10:03 AM4/13/20
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Wakehurst parkway will be an exit, the main motorway will join Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation and continue as A8 I assume

Nihat

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Apr 13, 2020, 11:53:07 PM4/13/20
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have also noticed at the new m5 portals there is a sign for average speed camera. currently these cameras only target heavy vehicles so perhaps this will now target all road users?

On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 9:10 PM DrazPhlaz <harrison...@gmail.com> wrote:
Wakehurst parkway will be an exit, the main motorway will join Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation and continue as A8 I assume

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Hubert Lam

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Apr 13, 2020, 11:54:28 PM4/13/20
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No route number for NorthConnex. The A11 remains though 😓

IMG_20200414_135127.jpg
IMG_20200414_135144.jpg

Sam Laybutt

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Apr 14, 2020, 2:29:41 AM4/14/20
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Wow...just wow


Sent: Tuesday, 14 April 2020 11:54 AM

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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020

Brendan Terrett

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Apr 14, 2020, 4:07:27 AM4/14/20
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I just drove down the M1 and noticed that approaching the old terminus they've put up a big new overhead sign with A1 Pacific Highway signed on it, not on a coverplate.

They also have a big new overheight and dangerous goods truck warning sign saying "M1 Tunnel" on the top line so fuck knows what's going on...

ed24f1

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Apr 18, 2020, 2:35:51 AM4/18/20
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The height restriction sign on PHR with 'North Connex' as a title (in my 2nd photo last week) has now been taken down - perhaps it should have been M1 Tunnel after all?

Hubert Lam

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Apr 18, 2020, 10:50:46 AM4/18/20
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Oh wow - so potentially all of the other directional signage is missing an "M1" on it.

At the southern portal, there's also lane allocation signs, one for M2 and one for A28. No sign of M1 there.

On Sat, Apr 18, 2020 at 4:35 PM ed24f1 <ed2...@gmail.com> wrote:
The height restriction sign on PHR with 'North Connex' as a title (in my 2nd photo last week) has now been taken down - perhaps it should have been M1 Tunnel after all?

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Hubert Lam

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Apr 19, 2020, 9:04:06 AM4/19/20
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Actually, having had another look at the Future Transport 2056 pages, it seems like the M1 is going to be rerouted via the NCX, at least diagrammatically:

Jason Kumar

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Apr 20, 2020, 12:14:02 AM4/20/20
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ed24f1

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Apr 20, 2020, 4:20:16 AM4/20/20
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It would have made so much more sense to use M1 if they took a more southerly alignment (also would have helped Pacific Hwy and not just PHR) - or at least built the southbound M2 onramps at the southern interchange from the start.

Speaking of the more southerly alignment, I'm surprised there's still some sections of the old Lane Cove Valley corridor that RMS haven't sold off yet.

DrazPhlaz

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Apr 20, 2020, 5:25:33 AM4/20/20
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M1 should just follow Northconnex, then PHR to carlingford, then A6 to heathcote, like a proper Newcastle - Wollongong direct route

Hubert Lam

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May 4, 2020, 5:45:08 AM5/4/20
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On Mon, 20 Apr 2020, 7:25 pm DrazPhlaz, <harrison...@gmail.com> wrote:
M1 should just follow Northconnex, then PHR to carlingford, then A6 to heathcote, like a proper Newcastle - Wollongong direct route

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Hubert Lam

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May 5, 2020, 12:54:16 AM5/5/20
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This one got installed on Pennant Hills Rd outside Normanhurst Boys HS recently. No route number.

Focal points :

Parramatta
Sydney
Canberra
IMG_20200505_145238.jpg

Hubert Lam

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May 8, 2020, 1:57:58 AM5/8/20
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This was installed over the last few days just prior to the M1/A28 Junction in the northbound direction. Definitely no route number.

Instead there's an airplane symbol 😂✈️
IMG_20200508_155450.jpg

Sam Laybutt

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May 8, 2020, 4:04:59 AM5/8/20
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Exciting times... at least B83 is now correctly recognised here. 


Sent: Friday, 8 May 2020 1:57 PM

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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020

Musa Hodzic

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May 8, 2020, 11:45:16 AM5/8/20
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Wow. Looks like the time has come where they fk up all the the route numbering in Sydney.

DrazPhlaz

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May 8, 2020, 6:22:18 PM5/8/20
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We about to become QLD with this incoherent numbering mess

Hubert Lam

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May 9, 2020, 12:54:44 AM5/9/20
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I think one of the reasons for NOT rerouting M1 down the NCX is the single traffic light at the M2/A28 junction.

Otherwise it wouldn't be an "M" route. Even if the Hume Highway was M31 all the way to Albury and whilst it has flat junctions, it doesn't have a single traffic light.

On Sat, May 9, 2020 at 8:22 AM DrazPhlaz <harrison...@gmail.com> wrote:
We about to become QLD with this incoherent numbering mess

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Luke

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May 9, 2020, 1:40:13 AM5/9/20
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The M5 was still the M5 even though there was a traffic light intersection with Moorebank Avenue before 2001?

Hubert Lam

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May 9, 2020, 1:47:04 AM5/9/20
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But it was a Metroad 5 with that single traffic light. The new alphanumeric system almost insists no traffic lights in the midst of the "M" route? Hence Southern Cross Drive now qualifies as the M1, and not A1. 


On Sat, May 9, 2020 at 3:40 PM Luke <luke....@gmail.com> wrote:
The M5 was still the M5 even though there was a traffic light intersection with Moorebank Avenue before 2001?

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Luke Kario

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May 9, 2020, 2:00:19 AM5/9/20
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True, but perhaps Government want to maintain the names and numbers of the roads Northconnex is connected with to prevent confusion.

If Northconnex became the M7, many could get confused with the duplex with the M2. Similarly if the M2 east of PHR becomes the M1, then what happens to the M2 namewise? 

I'm all for duplexing road numbers but it could become potentially confusing to the average motorist.

IMO, M7 should be duplexed with M2 between Abbott and PHR as to designate it as the bypass of Sydney.


Kind regards,

Luke

Hubert Lam

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May 9, 2020, 2:17:27 AM5/9/20
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Should've just been the M28 then 😁

ed24f1

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May 9, 2020, 5:21:14 AM5/9/20
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Some more new signs I found today.

  1. I think the northern onramp might be quite confusing for unfamiliar drivers. So perhaps that's a positive for not using M1 to designate both directions?
  2. Why is 'To B83' shown instead without mentioning 'To A11'? Same can be said about the sign Hubert posted above?
  3. This is on the northbound approach to the M1 turn-off from PHR. Why direct overheight vehicles to use PHR when it ends in 500m? Shouldn't it say Pacific Hwy?
  4. I think this sign is worse than what used to be there. The lane allocation is no longer clear, and this sign provides no mention of the North Connex turn-off coming up. A1 Sydney used and not A11 Pymble as well - seems a bit inconsistent when Sydney is designated via NorthConnex in 500m? Maybe the Pearces Corner A11 marker was a mistake after all?

20200509_141619.jpg
20200509_141327.jpg
20200509_135130.jpg
20200509_134136.jpg

Richard Ho

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May 9, 2020, 7:12:49 AM5/9/20
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On Saturday, 9 May 2020 16:17:27 UTC+10, Hubert wrote:
Should've just been the M28 then 😁
Or even M10, since that number is unused. M11 would be easily confused with M1 if the former number was implemented for NCX.

Sam Laybutt

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May 9, 2020, 8:20:32 AM5/9/20
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Yeah number 4 is a really strange one. Where did the other lane go?

The signs for this entire project are just a mess


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Sent: Saturday, 9 May 2020 5:21 PM
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Subject: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
 
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Hubert Lam

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May 10, 2020, 1:23:37 AM5/10/20
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I guess I can still live with the fact that the Cross City Tunnel also has no route marker 😂 The NCX will just happen t fall into that same category.

As previously mentioned elsewhere in this forum, it'll get really interesting when this fabled "M6 Stage 1" opens. I doubt it'll be a M6 route marker there. It would beggar belief that there's a parallel A6 somewhere 10-15 km east of the "M6" motorway. At the same time, we'll also just need to live with a silly disjoined M8/A8 until at least 2030 when the WHT and Beaches Link is fully built 😑

Jason Kumar

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May 10, 2020, 3:31:39 AM5/10/20
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Ideally the CCT would get the M4 route marker if they were to extend it across the Anzac Bridge and into the CCT, but that would just be common sense.

Jason.

Hubert Lam

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May 12, 2020, 10:00:01 AM5/12/20
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Luke

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May 13, 2020, 2:18:32 AM5/13/20
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Some new signs for NCX heading southbound on the M1. 

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 11:55:39 PM UTC+11, Hubert wrote:
IMG20200513161056.jpg
IMG20200513161215.jpg
IMG20200513161200.jpg
IMG20200513161141.jpg
IMG20200513161234.jpg

Sam Laybutt

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May 13, 2020, 2:25:16 AM5/13/20
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Looks like 'Sydney via M2 Motorway' in some sort of weird box. Looks like that's the compromise settled on in the battle between M1 and not M1? 



From: aussie-...@googlegroups.com <aussie-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Luke <luke....@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 13 May 2020 2:18 PM

To: Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
Some new signs for NCX heading southbound on the M1. 

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 11:55:39 PM UTC+11, Hubert wrote:

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Luke Kario

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May 13, 2020, 2:40:16 AM5/13/20
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Unfortunately it says "Sydney via NORTHCONNEX".


Kind regards,

Luke

Michael Mak

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May 13, 2020, 2:42:00 AM5/13/20
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What a mess, it'd make too much sense to have say: Sydney via Northconnex M1, Sydney via Pacific Highway A11.

Jason Kumar

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May 13, 2020, 3:06:36 AM5/13/20
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I don't like it being called northconnex as it's the project bake.  Surely a better name and route number would be nice.  Maybe they will rename it later like they did the other M routes.

Jason

davis

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May 13, 2020, 3:54:22 AM5/13/20
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Yeah I do wonder if the road being delivered as an unsolicited proposal has caused some of the oddities, like here with numbering and signage.

Michael Mak

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May 13, 2020, 3:56:24 AM5/13/20
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Could it be a Pacific Motorway extension? So we have 'Sydney via M1 Pacific Motorway, Sydney via A11 Pacific Highway', like M1 Princes Motorway, A1 Princes Highway in Waterfall. To avoid confusion, just call it 'M1 Motorway'. Agree that it definitely should have a route number being a significant trunk road linking M1 and M7.

Luke Kario

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May 13, 2020, 4:34:15 AM5/13/20
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Trouble with that is do we divert Highway 1 via the M7 and M31?

I'm in favour of NorthConnex acting as an extension of the Pacific Mwy and the M7 and thus should be signed as the M7. The M7 can finally be designated as the Sydney Bypass we've been waiting for more than 30 years; a motorway bypass of the Cumberland Highway.

Kind regards,

Luke


Jason Kumar

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May 13, 2020, 6:05:13 AM5/13/20
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I would run the M1 via northconnex (as Pacific Motorway), duplex M1/M2 until the WHT, duplex M1/M8 with the WHT until the F6 stage 1 (which becomes the M1). That joins up with the current A1 (and then M1 Princes Motorway) until they decide to fill in the missing M1 gap there.

The existing M1 via Easter Dist and Southern Cross Drive can become the M5 (an extension of the current route from the airport) to the Sydney CBD.

Luke Kario

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May 13, 2020, 6:07:23 AM5/13/20
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That sounds like a fantastic proposition, Jason.


Kind regards,

Luke

Hubert Lam

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May 13, 2020, 8:13:11 AM5/13/20
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Only one problem with it - it makes sense!

Hence, wouldn't happen. 

Hubert Lam

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May 13, 2020, 9:01:31 AM5/13/20
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And goodbye to any hope of having "M1 Tunnel" given this coverplated over sign:

image.png

Henry Ung

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May 14, 2020, 7:10:07 AM5/14/20
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What would have made it sweeter was if there was a north to east motorway connection between NorthConnex and the M2.

ed24f1

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May 14, 2020, 8:02:16 AM5/14/20
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On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:01:31 PM UTC+10, Hubert wrote:
And goodbye to any hope of having "M1 Tunnel" given this coverplated over sign:


Saw this today as well so was about to mention it.

They also can't decide whether to use 'Pennant Hills Road' or 'Cumberland Highway' - it's used very inconsistently even on signs only 20 metres apart at Pearce's Corner.

Luke Kario

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May 14, 2020, 8:40:23 AM5/14/20
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Maybe they're trying to make PHR sound like a local road to discourage bypassing traffic from using it?


Kind regards,

Luke

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Hubert Lam

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May 14, 2020, 8:53:14 AM5/14/20
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If that's the case, the A28 route marker should been sent underground to become M28 🤦‍♂️ Obviously "too hard".

Richard Ho

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May 14, 2020, 7:56:11 PM5/14/20
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On Wednesday, 13 May 2020 17:06:36 UTC+10, Jason wrote:
I don't like it being called northconnex as it's the project bake.  Surely a better name and route number would be nice.  Maybe they will rename it later like they did the other M routes.

Jason



Similar to how the Lane Cove Tunnel got its name, I'm at a loss as to why the name 'Pennant Hills Tunnel' wasn't used instead on the signage for Northconnex,

ed24f1

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May 23, 2020, 4:56:40 AM5/23/20
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Some photos of the new signs (and a new coverplate) from the past couple of weeks. Not many to go at this end.

20200523_125721.jpg
20200523_124907.jpg
20200523_124429.jpg

Musa Hodzic

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May 25, 2020, 7:57:12 AM5/25/20
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What BS for such a road not to have a route marker!

On Sat, 23 May 2020 at 18:56, ed24f1 <ed2...@gmail.com> wrote:
Some photos of the new signs (and a new coverplate) from the past couple of weeks. Not many to go at this end.

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Brendan Terrett

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May 27, 2020, 1:36:31 AM5/27/20
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The recent rains have exposed a few more signs, with their drop cloth coverings becoming transparent thanks to the wet t-shirt effect.

Sydney is being signposted via the Pacific Highway route, but ALSO through Northconnex in a special sub-panel (in a box with white border) saying 'Sydney VIA NORTHCONNEX' beneath the other control cities. The A11 sign has been coverplated with A1.

On Sat, 23 May 2020, 18:56 ed24f1, <ed2...@gmail.com> wrote:
Some photos of the new signs (and a new coverplate) from the past couple of weeks. Not many to go at this end.

Luke Kario

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May 27, 2020, 1:41:46 AM5/27/20
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IMG20200513161141.jpg

Brendan Terrett

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May 27, 2020, 3:04:15 AM5/27/20
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Hubert Lam

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May 27, 2020, 4:56:44 AM5/27/20
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I think the NCX will now open before the "New M5" (M8), thanks to the large number of signs that seem to have been installed over the last few weeks.

Jason Kumar

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May 27, 2020, 4:58:06 AM5/27/20
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Would be nice for it to be open next weekend for the long weekend drives up north! But oh well.

Jason

Hubert Lam

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May 29, 2020, 8:23:29 AM5/29/20
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Just read up on the toll page - it'll cost as much as the M2 full stretch for this 9 km road.

I wonder if exiting the NCX heading westbound on to the M2 will get you charged again for the Pennant Hills Road to Old Windsor Rd stretch? 😂

On Sat, 23 May 2020, 6:56 pm ed24f1, <ed2...@gmail.com> wrote:
Some photos of the new signs (and a new coverplate) from the past couple of weeks. Not many to go at this end.

Brendan Terrett

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May 29, 2020, 9:39:03 AM5/29/20
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My guess (based on the "M1 Tunnel" and A11 signage popping up briefly prior to coverplating) is that initially they wanted M1 to run through the tunnel. I think the backflip came because it would introduce problems with the route numbering system (namely having to renumber the eastern part of the M2, as well as the combined toll charges via that route being excessive compared to the free route, and also because the physical distance to Sydney using NorthConnex and M2 over Pacific Highway is also far longer.

Imagine if they did run M1 along the eastern half of the M2. Because the toll road is actually called Hills M2, they'd need to get Transurban on board with rebranding the Hills M2 to make the toll road branding route-number agnostic. I'd imagine that would be a bureaucratic nightmare. 

Now that all of Sydney's toll roads are owned by Transurban one way or another, they really should negotiate with the government to implement a per-km fee which is standard across the entire motorway network, perhaps weighted at a higher rate on roads closer to the CBD, rather than having so many separate tolling regimes where you need an accountant to work out how much your journey is going to cost in tolls. 

On Fri, 29 May 2020 at 22:23, Hubert Lam <hub...@lamfamily.info> wrote:
Just read up on the toll page - it'll cost as much as the M2 full stretch for this 9 km road.

I wonder if exiting the NCX heading westbound on to the M2 will get you charged again for the Pennant Hills Road to Old Windsor Rd stretch? 
image.png

On Sat, 23 May 2020, 6:56 pm ed24f1, <ed2...@gmail.com> wrote:
Some photos of the new signs (and a new coverplate) from the past couple of weeks. Not many to go at this end.

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Luke Kario

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May 29, 2020, 10:10:13 AM5/29/20
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Firstly, "M1 tunnel" would be a nightmare and quite the headache for everyone.

Secondly, distance based tolling makes sense, especially with a ring road like Sydney. Some routes end up being cheaper and some might have to pay but it's a fairer system.

Using the M7 as a guide (~40c/km), the Sydney Orbital should be charged with this rate.  

E.g., Falcon St to Airport via Qantas Drive is 14 km, in peak hour it's $4. Return is $7.92 via ED, $11.92 in total.

Same trip made with 40c/km would equate to $11.20, $5.60 each way. Small saving but much easier to track.

A $15 cap per trip sounds reasonable, especially when it currently costs almost $40 to do a whole lap!

This eventually could be expanded to arterial and other main roads and composes with other road tax reforms once there is a significant uptake in non-petrol powered vehicles.

Of course, a profit-sharing scheme would be implemented between TfNSW and other companies involved in PPP such as Transurban, but only with their motorway projects.


Luke Kario

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Jun 2, 2020, 6:19:00 PM6/2/20
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Hubert Lam

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Jun 2, 2020, 7:01:13 PM6/2/20
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image.png
Everything has now been renamed the "M8".

Luke Kario

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Jun 2, 2020, 8:23:18 PM6/2/20
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Last paragraph of this press release confirms our suspicions.


Kind regards,

Luke

Screenshot_2020-06-03-10-21-55-21.png

Jason Kumar

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Jun 3, 2020, 2:10:10 AM6/3/20
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It's a sensible decision, unlike the mess that is Northconnex....

Jason

Nihat

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Jun 3, 2020, 7:16:56 AM6/3/20
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no word yet on if there will be a toll free period. given the problems with the m4 east and the fact the existing m5 east will be tolled, i have no doubt there will be a month long period of toll free so drivers can make adjustments 

Virus-free. www.avg.com


Virus-free. www.avg.com

Luke Kario

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Jun 3, 2020, 7:28:24 AM6/3/20
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Considering the current economic climate, there is a possibility that they might not as well. The M4 East did not have a toll free period.

Kind regards,

Luke


ed24f1

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Jun 5, 2020, 4:27:06 AM6/5/20
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20200605_170242.jpg

20200605_165409.jpg


Sorry for the low quality images, but confirmation of the death of A11. Also, the sign on the northbound Pacific Highway approach to the M1 has been installed after being down for at least a year. Unsure why they replaced a Pacific Mwy caption with Motorway but at least B83 now appears on the sign.

Sam Laybutt

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Jun 5, 2020, 4:44:14 AM6/5/20
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Is the RD sign a direct replacement of the old one? https://goo.gl/maps/RtNQ78M7HNWw7uy57



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Sent: Friday, 5 June 2020 4:27 PM
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Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Re: NorthConnex & WestConnex New M5 to be open mid 2020
 

Hubert Lam

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Jun 5, 2020, 7:05:33 AM6/5/20
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Yes, the old A11 sign has been totally replaced. Not even coverplated!

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DrazPhlaz

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Jun 5, 2020, 8:17:05 AM6/5/20
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Also looks like they’ve changed the focus point from Pymble back to Sydney, reinforcing the Pacific Hwy as the main road to the city. This signage is all over the shop
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