• Sydney Airport welcomes official start of $170 million Airport East precinct upgrade
• Part of joint commitment by Sydney Airport, the NSW Government and the Commonwealth to improve traffic flows in and around airport
• Complements five-year program of works currently underway within airport precinct

Sydney Airport today welcomed the commencement of works on the Federal and NSW governments’ jointly funded Airport East project to upgrade roads around the airport.

The project forms part of the joint commitment by Sydney Airport, the NSW Government and the Commonwealth to ease traffic flows and improve access to and from the airport. The strength of the relationship was demonstrated by the offer by Sydney Airport of land between Botany Road and General Holmes Drive to the NSW Government that allowed the Airport East solution to be developed.

Sydney Airport is three years into its five-year program of road and ground access upgrades within the airport, with several key projects already completed since works began.

Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said transformational road upgrades within the airport had already contributed to smoother traffic flows in and around the precincts.

“Our priority is to make it easier to travel to and from the airport by car, taxi or public transport, and we’re delighted the governments’ Airport East works are now underway,” Ms Mather said.

“When complete, the Airport East road upgrades, together with Sydney Airport’s own ground access improvements, will result in a better travel experience for airport visitors, commuters and other road users.”

Sydney Airport has already completed the following projects to improve traffic flows:

• a new Centre Road within the T1 International precinct making it easier for motorists to drive in and around the precinct;
• a new dedicated entry from Marsh Street onto Centre Road at T1, relieving traffic pressure on Departures Road and Arrivals Court;
• reconfigured car park entries and exits at T1, including a new dedicated exit for citybound traffic;
• a five-lane one-way exit from the T2/T3 Domestic precinct;
• the expansion of Sir Reginald Ansett Drive to five dedicated entry lanes into the T2/T3 Domestic precinct;
• a new dedicated taxi entry lane at the T2/T3 Domestic precinct and improved taxi holding areas across the airport; and
• reconfigured T2/T3 Domestic precinct to accommodate ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft, as well as an expanded 15-minute free Express pick-up area.

Projects scheduled for completion by the end of 2017 include:

• an elevated shared cycle/pedestrian path from the Alexandra Canal cycleway, over roads and car parks into P7 at T1;
• a new dedicated exit road for Departures Road/Arrivals Court to Airport Drive; and
• widening of Qantas Drive between O’Riordan Street and Robey Street in preparation for the NSW Government’s Airport North works.

A new flyover from Airport Drive into the T1 precinct and the construction of a dedicated Ground Transport Interchange at T2/T3 also form part of the airport’s five-year program.