The Northern Road

The Northern Road upgrade (stage three) comprises the upgrade of 3.8km of existing two lane 2-way highway to three lanes plus a bus lane in each direction, as well as the upgrade of seven intersections including a major interchange with the M4 Western Motorway.

In Joint Venture, WSP was engaged as the Principal Design Consultant to complete the detailed design of the:

• Road alignment and road furniture
• Longitudinal drainage, cross drainage flooding and hydrology
• Structural design including a new bridge over the M4 Motorway, retaining walls, noise walls, signage structures and gantries
• Geotechnical design
• ITS, traffic control signals, including VMS structures
• Utilities coordination and 3D modelling
• Traffic assessment
• Durability assessment
• Road safety audits
• Environmental compliance reporting

 WSP was engaged by TfNSW for stage four of the project to help identify a preferred route option, with 12 options developed. We conducted environmental investigation work and engineering analysis on them to identify a shortlist of 4 feasible options.

Our innovative approach

A BIM model was developed allowing the team to identify clashes early in the process and communicate these effectively and efficiently.

A design solution that allowed the new bridge to be constructed independently of the existing bridge, simplifying traffic staging and enabling demolition of the exiting bridge in a single operation.

Rigorous digital engineering approaches such as 12D automation, that significantly reduced the time needed for the 3D design and outputs, design reporting, and back end drawing production.

Delivering long-term benefits to the community

Upon completion, the Northern Road will support the proposed Western Sydney airport by catering for future traffic demand, improved transport connections from the south, reduced future congestion and travel times, will support the growing population in Western Sydney and a flow on effect of creating more than 57,000 jobs over the next 30 years.