Light Horse Interchange

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Light Horse Interchange

New South Wales
Approaching the Light Horse Interchange on the M4 Motorway
Map
Light Horse Interchange is located in New South Wales
Light Horse Interchange
Light Horse Interchange
Coordinates
General information
TypeRoad junction
Junction typeModified four-level
Eastern Creek
Maximum height23 m (75 ft)
Spans18
OpenedDecember 2005 (2005-12)
Built byLeighton Contractors, Abigroup
Maintained byTransport for NSW
Roads at junction

The Light Horse Interchange is a

Eastern Creek, Sydney, Australia at the junction of the M4 and M7 motorways. The interchange is the largest in the Australia and was opened to traffic in December 2005.[1] The interchange was named in honour of the Australian Light Horse Brigades of World War I, who trained at the Wallgrove Army camp
that was located near the site of the interchange prior to deploying overseas.

Design and construction

Aerial view of the interchange.

In response to a population boom in Sydney's western suburbs, the

request for tender in 2001, a joint venture between engineering firms Leighton Contractors and Abigroup were awarded the contract in 2003 to design and construct the Westlink M7 motorway and interchanges, including Australia's first complete four-level stack interchange.[3]

Construction of the Light Horse Interchange began in 2003 at the site of the existing M4 Wallgrove Road exit. The new motorway overpass consisted of two spans, 431 m (1,414 ft) and 397 m (1,302 ft) carrying the main carriageways of the M7 over the existing M4. 802 individual bridge segments were used to create the main spans, 8 connecting ramps and a separate bridge carrying a shared pedestrian and cycle path.[4] The Wallgrove Road M4 overpass was retained, with new ramp flyovers reaching a height of 16 m (52 ft) above the existing roadway and ramps. Due to the complexity of the interchange no access to the M7 was provided.

During the construction phase between 2003 and 2005, both the

pre-cast concrete bridge segments at heights of up to 23 m (75 ft) above the active motorway.[5] Upon completion, electronic tolling was implemented for vehicles entering the Westlink M7
, allowing continuous flow of traffic.

Landscaping

As a major feature of Sydney's road network, the Light Horse Interchange features unique landscaping and lighting. A 55 m (180 ft) steel lighting tower was installed in the centre of the interchange, designed to be visible to motorists up to 2 km (1.2 mi) away, as well as the more practical function of lighting the interchange.

Flanders poppy, as well as the blood of supreme sacrifice, with white bands to represent the innocence of the soldiers leaving for war. Wire plumages atop the markers represent the emu feathers worn in the slouch hats of members of the regiment. As quarantine laws prevented the horses from returning to Australia after combat, there is no reference to horses in the sculpture.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Westlink M7 Motorway". Abigroup. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  2. Roads & Maritime Services
    . Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  3. Sydney Morning Herald
    . 4 September 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Fact Sheet - Light Horse Interchange" (PDF). Westlink Motorway Limited. May 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Australian Construction Achievement Award 2007 Conference Paper" (PDF). Australian Construction Achievement Award. 4 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2013.
  6. Sydney Morning Herald
    .
  7. ^ "Light Horse Sculpture Parade". Westlink Motorway Limited. 2008.
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