A3 and A6 corridor capacity
The A3 and A6 corridors are major arterial roads that service north–south journeys for both freight and general traffic in Sydney.
High traffic volumes on both corridors are leading to slow and unreliable trips, and are impacting on freight productivity, particularly during peak times. The 2019
Australian Infrastructure Audit identified the A6 between Sutherland and Ryde, as Sydney’s sixth worst route for congestion, as measured by delays per lane kilometre.
The A3 and A6 both connect to the M5 and M4 motorways. The A3 provides freight access between Sydney and the Sutherland Shire/Illawarra region, as well as to Sydney Airport, Port Botany and the Chullora and Enfield intermodal terminals. Up to 98,500 vehicles use the A3 each day at its busiest section – Concord Road at Rhodes.
The A6 serves as a key road transport link to the Bankstown Strategic Centre, and carries approximately 65,000 vehicles a day along Stacey Street near Bankstown.
The congested nature of the A3 and A6, negatively impacts bus travel times and reliability. This in turn reduces the attractiveness of public transport and reinforces car use, thereby adding to more congestion, including on adjacent local streets.
Capacity constraints on the A3 and A6 corridors could be addressed through a range of interventions, such as intersection upgrades and road widening, prioritised lanes for active transport and buses, improved pedestrian crossings, freight prioritisation and improved public transport services.
Potential upgrades should be considered in the context of achieving modal shift away from private vehicles and towards net zero emissions targets. An overall integrated program should be developed, as improvements to either of the corridors may also reduce pressure on the other.
Proponent to complete business case development (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).
Refer to Infrastructure Glossary for terms and definitions.