Liverpool City Council has completed the detailed design and environmental assessment for the Middleton Drive Extension, bringing the major Southwest Sydney road project closer to construction.
The proposed link will connect Middleton Drive in Middleton Grange with Aviation Road in Elizabeth Hills through an underpass beneath the M7 Motorway.
It will also include a shared pedestrian and cycling path, providing an additional connection between the two growing communities.
However, construction has not yet begun. The project remains subject to final technical reviews, external approvals and additional funding.
Design and environmental work completed
Council says the project’s detailed design and Review of Environmental Factors have now been completed.
The documents have been submitted to Transport for NSW and the Westlink M7 motorway operator for final review.
The design process has required coordination across several complex areas, including motorway infrastructure, flood management, road engineering and the proposed elevated shared path.
Because the new road will pass beneath the M7, Council cannot independently proceed to construction without completing agreements and approvals involving the relevant transport and motorway authorities.
Liverpool City Council’s public project register currently continues to classify the extension as being in the design phase.
New road connection under the M7
The project will provide a direct road link between Middleton Drive and Aviation Road.
Council expects the connection to improve access into and out of Middleton Grange, which currently has limited road connections to surrounding suburbs and major transport routes.
The extension is also intended to provide an additional route for emergency services, public transport, waste collection and local traffic.
A shared walking and cycling route will form part of the project, improving active-transport links between Middleton Grange and Elizabeth Hills.
Council’s current delivery program describes the project as a road connection passing underneath the M7 and estimates its budget at approximately $12.2 million.
Funding remains the main obstacle
Despite completing the design and environmental stages, Council has not yet secured all the funding required to deliver the project.
It is preparing a submission seeking further financial support from the Australian Government.
Once the required funding is confirmed, Council will need to enter formal agreements with Transport for NSW and the M7 motorway operator before pre-construction and building work can proceed.
The announcement therefore represents a design and planning milestone rather than approval to begin construction.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said Council had completed the technical work needed to prepare the project for its next phase and was now seeking federal support to deliver it.
He argued that the link had significance beyond the local area because of its connection to the M7 and its potential role in supporting passenger and freight movements across Southwest Sydney.
Construction timetable remains conditional
Council says construction could begin after funding, approvals and pre-construction requirements are completed.
The latest media announcement indicates that completion is being targeted by December 2028, subject to those conditions.
However, Council’s existing online project page lists an estimated completion date of June 2028.
As the project has not yet secured full funding or entered procurement, either date should be treated as indicative rather than confirmed.
A final construction schedule is likely to depend on:
- The outcome of the federal funding application
- Completion of the Transport for NSW and Westlink M7 reviews
- Execution of access and delivery agreements
- Procurement of a construction contractor
- Weather, site and flood-management conditions
Supporting growth in Southwest Sydney
Middleton Grange and surrounding parts of Liverpool are experiencing continued residential and infrastructure growth.
Council says the new connection will reduce reliance on existing access roads, improve network resilience and help accommodate future population and traffic demand.
The project may also improve access to local shops, schools, neighbouring developments and major motorway connections.
Completing the design and environmental assessment means the extension is technically more advanced and better positioned to proceed once funding is available.
The next major milestone will be securing the remaining money and external agreements needed to move the project from design into construction.
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