NOTE- THIS PAGE WAS WRITTEN PRIOR TO THE 2017 RELEASE OF DESIGNS. THE PAGE WILL BE UPDATED TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN IN THE NEAR FUTURE
The Rozelle Interchange forms a paramount part of the WestConnex project. It will be located in Rozelle, near the CBD. Situated in the Rozelle Goods Yard, the preliminary designs show the interchange including links between the proposed M4-M5 Link, the Anzac Bridge and thence the Western Distributor, along with Victoria Road and the City West Link. It also has provision for links to the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel.
The Rozelle Interchange forms a paramount part of the WestConnex project. It will be located in Rozelle, near the CBD. Situated in the Rozelle Goods Yard, the preliminary designs show the interchange including links between the proposed M4-M5 Link, the Anzac Bridge and thence the Western Distributor, along with Victoria Road and the City West Link. It also has provision for links to the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel.
Prior to July 2016, these were the only designs available to public. However, on the 18th July 2016, more designs for the interchange were released, involving an ambitious plan to construct a tunnel between the Iron Cove Bridge at Victoria Road, and the Rozelle interchange; roughly 1km long. 27 homes will be acquired by the government along Victoria Road.
Remarkably (and perhaps by magic) it has been claimed by Duncan Gay that this new addition ''...won't cost a cent more'' towards the WestConnex project; already at $16.8 billion. It has even been claimed the Iron Cove Link will not be tolled; this certainly is a dubious claim to be making.
Once I'd found out the Iron Cove Link would be constructed, I was both shocked and pleased. This is a plan that needs more thought put into it - it's a little bit of a knee-jerk reaction in response to what will be increased Anzac Bridge traffic thanks to WestConnex. It seems unusual that such an idea was released to public so early on before construction even starts in 2019. However, the tunnel will ease traffic on Victoria Road (well, parts of it).
Also confirmed are that most of the Rozelle Interchange will be underground. Even so, the RoadsAustralia design can still be used, only it will be underground.
The design for the Rozelle Interchange as of July 2016 are below. However clearly this picture is more focused on the parklands; in fact, I can't see any part of WestConnex in this picture, other than some weird partial-y interchange for The Crescent and City West Link (which is not part of the WestConnex).
Remarkably (and perhaps by magic) it has been claimed by Duncan Gay that this new addition ''...won't cost a cent more'' towards the WestConnex project; already at $16.8 billion. It has even been claimed the Iron Cove Link will not be tolled; this certainly is a dubious claim to be making.
Once I'd found out the Iron Cove Link would be constructed, I was both shocked and pleased. This is a plan that needs more thought put into it - it's a little bit of a knee-jerk reaction in response to what will be increased Anzac Bridge traffic thanks to WestConnex. It seems unusual that such an idea was released to public so early on before construction even starts in 2019. However, the tunnel will ease traffic on Victoria Road (well, parts of it).
Also confirmed are that most of the Rozelle Interchange will be underground. Even so, the RoadsAustralia design can still be used, only it will be underground.
The design for the Rozelle Interchange as of July 2016 are below. However clearly this picture is more focused on the parklands; in fact, I can't see any part of WestConnex in this picture, other than some weird partial-y interchange for The Crescent and City West Link (which is not part of the WestConnex).
These interchange designs are clearly limited, remembering that the M4-M5 Link is still in its design phase. This is why I have chosen to create my own design which allows for connection between all the major roads in the area.
In this map the M4/M5 Links, and the Western Harbour Tunnel, are unbuilt, alongside the ramps.
The interchange below is by no means official; it is only a generic design I have made that does not take into account the homes in the area. While it would allow for the most traffic movements, chances are this design would be heavily opposed and hence not built for its immense size and the ugly eyesore it will create so near to the CBD.
That is not to say a free-flowing interchange should not be built; the RMS and WestConnex teams should make every effort to allow for free-flowing ramps that disallow congestion whilst minimising affects to properties. This can be done by making the interchange underground, and possibly smaller.
View the bigger sized map here.
In this map the M4/M5 Links, and the Western Harbour Tunnel, are unbuilt, alongside the ramps.
The interchange below is by no means official; it is only a generic design I have made that does not take into account the homes in the area. While it would allow for the most traffic movements, chances are this design would be heavily opposed and hence not built for its immense size and the ugly eyesore it will create so near to the CBD.
That is not to say a free-flowing interchange should not be built; the RMS and WestConnex teams should make every effort to allow for free-flowing ramps that disallow congestion whilst minimising affects to properties. This can be done by making the interchange underground, and possibly smaller.
View the bigger sized map here.
Each of the 3 tunnels will emerge just before the interchange. Rather than link the M4 Link with the M5 Link, I have chosen to allow traffic to flow from the M4 Link onto the Anzac Bridge. The M5 Link flows onto the WHT. I have made no provision for the Iron Cove Tunnel; I made this map before plans were made for the new tunnel. However it is most likely the Iron Cove Link will follow a similar route to the Western Harbour Tunnel.
Victoria Road-City West Link movements will remain mostly the same. The City-West Link will now go above the M4 Link on a new flyover. Traffic on Victoria Road will access this flyover and the Anzac Bridge via a new on-ramp. Going north on the M5 Link traffic will be able to access Victoria Road northbound; going south on Victoria Road traffic can access the M5 Link.
This interchange is not complete; it is the combination of several partial-y and one directional-t (where the M5 Link meets the M4 Link) interchange (read more here). Only going north on the M5-Link can traffic go in any direction, except for the City West Link.
This interchange has been designed so that traffic can access both the city and airport from almost any direction. It allows the most movements, and is the most free-flowing without any unnecessary ramps being built.
By 2019, and possibly prior, the official design for the Rozelle Interchange will be known.
Victoria Road-City West Link movements will remain mostly the same. The City-West Link will now go above the M4 Link on a new flyover. Traffic on Victoria Road will access this flyover and the Anzac Bridge via a new on-ramp. Going north on the M5 Link traffic will be able to access Victoria Road northbound; going south on Victoria Road traffic can access the M5 Link.
This interchange is not complete; it is the combination of several partial-y and one directional-t (where the M5 Link meets the M4 Link) interchange (read more here). Only going north on the M5-Link can traffic go in any direction, except for the City West Link.
This interchange has been designed so that traffic can access both the city and airport from almost any direction. It allows the most movements, and is the most free-flowing without any unnecessary ramps being built.
By 2019, and possibly prior, the official design for the Rozelle Interchange will be known.