Major work begins on Smithfield Road upgrade

The project – fully funded by the Federal Government - will create a four-lane, two-way carriageway between Polding Street and Elizabeth Drive, significantly improving traffic flow.

Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said the upgrade will bust the heavy congestion motorists face during their daily commute.

“We want to get people home sooner and safer and this upgrade will help boost the capacity of Smithfield Road’s intersections and improve access,” Mr Tudge said.

“We have worked hard to make sure motorists in Fairfield and across Western Sydney are spending more time doing what’s important – and less time sitting in traffic.”

Works will include widening sections of Smithfield Road to achieve four continuous lanes along its full 5.4 kilometres length, new traffic lights at Richards Road at the entry to the Fairfield Showground and improved road approach to Elizabeth Drive with additional right turn bay capacity.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said the current travel times impacted families, businesses and the environment.

“Smithfield Road has long been synonymous with heavy traffic as thousands of commuters chase the sun each morning and evening,” Mayor Carbone said.

“Time spent in traffic is time wasted, time that could be better spent with family and friends or in active, healthy pursuits.

“It also costs local businesses money in lost productivity when workers and deliveries are stuck in traffic, and costs the environment with the noise and pollution traffic jams cause.

“This project will give valuable time back to our families and businesses and will make Fairfield City an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”

The first stage of the project, for the sections between Edensor Road and Myrtle Road/Canley Vale Road and King Road and Polding Street, has been completed.

Site preparation and soil testing works has commenced at Elizabeth Drive and Richards Road, across from Fairfield Showground.

The works for the Smithfield Road upgrade between Polding Street and Elizabeth Drive include:

Road widening at Elizabeth Drive and providing an additional designated right turn lane onto Elizabeth Drive from Smithfield Road; Realignment of Richards Road and constructing a signalised intersection at the Fairfield Showground entry; Road widening on southbound lane of Smithfield Road to allow room for 4 lanes, 2- way carriageway at Richards Road; Road widening on southbound lane of Smithfield Road to allow room for 4 lanes, 2- way carriageway from Dunstan Street to Berry Street; and Utility relocation at Elizabeth Drive, Richards Road, Dunstan Street, Beavors Street and Berry Street.

The Smithfield Road Upgrade is expected to be completed by mid-2020, weather permitting.

Additional planned future upgrade works for Smithfield Road include slip lanes for the left turn onto King Road from Smithfield Road.

The $16.4 million Smithfield Road Upgrade is fully funded by the Morrison Government through the $200 million Local Roads Package, part of the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan funded in partnership with the New South Wales Government.