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Congestion Report 2019

Sydney

Note: Ratio of median travel time to best (shortest) travel time for each route.

The results show that routes to, from or terminating near the Sydney CBD – including M1 (South), M1 (North) and the A36 – exhibit a higher METR than other routes with peak period travel times up to 1.3 or 1.4 times the best (shortest) travel time. These routes also exhibit the greatest variation in travel times, with the median excess uncertainty ratio (MEUR) – i.e. the ratio of the median variation in travel time to minimum variation in travel time – also highest for the M1 (South), M1 (North) and the A36 routes. For example, the MEUR is 4.1 on the M1 (South) route, 3.2 for the A36 and 2.9 for the M1 (North). Although the two M1 routes show significant congestion they are relatively unimportant for freight activity.

A22 - Glebe to Liverpool / Liverpool to Glebe

This route follows surface roads between the inner city and the south west of Sydney via Ashfield and important logistics sites around Chullora. It is known by various names along its extent, including Parramatta Road, Liverpool Road and also as the Hume Highway for most of its length.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Glebe to Liverpool 00:41:04 00:51:52 1.1 00:25:48 00:44:33 1.2 29.2
Liverpool to Glebe 00:40:37 00:51:13 1.1 00:21:47 00:48:30 1.5 29.3

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Glebe to Liverpool were at 11pm and 9pm at just over 41 minutes and an interquartile range of 26 minutes. The longest travel times and most uncertain travel times were in the afternoon peak at 5pm with a median travel time of 52 minutes and an interquartile range of over 45 minutes respectively. Delays were apparent on Parramatta Road in particular.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Liverpool to Glebe were at 5am with a median travel time of 41 minutes and an interquartile range of 22 minutes. The longest travel times and greatest uncertainty were in the morning peak at 8am with the median travel time 51 minutes and an interquartile range of 48.5 minutes. Unlike the journey leaving the CBD (Glebe), travel into the CBD showed peaks in uncertainty in both the morning and afternoon, with delays most pronounced around the intersection of Liverpool and Parramatta Roads in Ashfield.


A28 - Casula to M2 Motorway / M2 Motorway to Casula

This surface route traverses much of Western Sydney, from the intersection of the M2 and Pennant Hills Road to the intersection of the Hume Motorway and Camden Velley Way. It passes Wentworthville, Fairfield West, Liverpool and Casula and crosses the A44, M4 and M5 routes.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Casula to M2 Motorway 00:36:07 00:47:49 1.1 00:14:51 00:45:14 1.7 32.8
M2 Motorway to Casula 00:35:21 00:53:49 1.2 00:15:24 01:00:05 1.9 32.9

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Casula to the M2 Motorway were at 4am with a median travel time of 36 minutes and an interquartile range of 15 minutes. The longest median travel times and most uncertain travel times were in the morning peak at 8am with a median travel time of 48 minutes and an interquartile range of 45 minutes. Delays were most prominent between Parramatta and Carlingford. There was also a prominent peak in the afternoon, however, heightened uncertainty occurred throughout the day.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from the M2 Motorway to Casula were at 1am with a median travel time of 35 minutes and an interquartile range of 15 minutes. The longest travel times were at 5pm with 54 minutes and the greatest uncertainty was at 4pm with an interquartile range of an hour. Like the journey from Casula, two peaks are present in the journey to Casula in the morning and afternoon respectively. Delays were most pronounced around Parramatta, Granville and Liverpool.


A3 - Blakehurst to Pymble / Pymble to Blakehurst

This route traverses Sydney from the intersection of Ryde Road and the Pacific Highway at Pymble to the Princes Highway at Blakehurst. It passes Ryde, Strathfield, Roselands and Hurstville along its way. It intersects with a number of other routes in this report including the M2, M4 and M5 motorways and the A34, A22 and A40.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Blakehurst to Pymble 00:37:26 00:49:09 1.1 00:16:34 00:45:35 1.6 30.5
Pymble to Blakehurst 00:38:15 00:59:15 1.1 00:17:57 00:54:30 1.6 30.8

The best travel times for journeys from Blakehurst to Pymble were at 4am with a median of 37 minutes, while the lowest uncertainty were 5am with an interquartile range of 17 minutes. The longest median travel times and most uncertainty were in the afternoon peak at 5pm with a median of 49 minutes and an interquartile range of 46 minutes. There was also a prominent peak in the morning. Delays were most apparent around Macquarie Park and North Ryde.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling to Blakehurst were at 11pm with a median of 38 minutes and an interquartile range of 18 minutes. The longest median travel times were at 3am with a median of 59 minutes, while the greatest uncertainty were in the afternoon peak at 5pm with an interquartile range of 54.5 minutes. Delays were most apparent around Homebush. There was also a less pronounced morning peak.

In both directions there are signs of an early morning peak, though this is more significant for southbound trips. This peak had lower speeds throughout the route but more pronounced in the stretch between Pymble and the Ryde Bridges. The reasons for this early morning peak are unclear.


A34 - Liverpool to Newtown / Newtown to Liverpool

This route follows a path almost parallel but more southerly to the A22, passing Marrickville, Punchbowl and Milperra. It is known by names including Canterbury Road and Milperra Road along its length.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Liverpool to Newtown 00:32:04 00:46:17 1.2 00:17:14 00:56:52 2.0 26.1
Newtown to Liverpool 00:32:52 00:47:38 1.2 00:19:40 01:03:07 1.8 26.1

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Liverpool to Newtown were 4am with a median travel time of 32 minutes and an interquartile range of 17 minutes respectively. The longest median travel times and most uncertain travel times were in the afternoon peak at 4pm with a median of 46 minutes and an interquartile range of 57 minutes respectively. Delays at this time were mostly evenly spread along the route but slightly more apparent at Newtown and Stanmore.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Newtown to Liverpool were at 11pm with a median travel time of 33 minutes and an interquartile range of 20 minutes. The longest travel times and the greatest uncertainty were at 4pm with a median of 48 minutes and an interquartile range of just over an hour. Delays were similarly distributed along the route but with a slight emphasis in the east.

Like the A3 route, the A34 route also showed a third early morning peak in both directions with delays concentrated in Newtown. The reasons for the early morning peak are not apparent.


A36 - Broadway to Georges River / Georges River to Broadway

This route travels south from the inner city at Broadway (Glebe), skirting industrial areas at Alexandria and passing through the Street George region before meeting the A3 at Blakehurst. For most of its length it is known as the Princes Highway.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Broadway to Georges River 00:21:45 00:30:36 1.2 00:09:09 00:29:55 1.9 16.5
Georges River to Broadway 00:19:30 00:35:56 1.4 00:06:41 00:37:54 3.2 16.5

The best travel times travelling from Broadway to Georges River were at 3am with a median travel time of 22 minutes, while the lowest uncertainty were 1am with an interquartile range of 9 minutes. The longest median travel times were in the afternoon peak at 3pm with a median of 31 minutes and the most uncertain time were in the morning peak at 8am experiencing an interquartile range of 30 minutes. Travel times and uncertainty were higher throughout business hours than other times of the day with delays most apparent around Tempe.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Georges River to Broadway were at 4am with a median travel time of 19.5 minutes and an interquartile range of 7 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were in the morning peak at 8am with a median of 36 minutes and an interquartile range of 38 minutes respectively. Like the opposite direction, travel times and uncertainty were heightened throughout business hours. Delays were experienced at Tempe and at Enmore.


A40 - Baulkham Hills to Rozelle / Rozelle to Baulkham Hills

This route connects the inner city (Rozelle) and the north-west of Sydney passing through Gladesville, Rydalmere and Toongabbie along its way. It is known at different points as Victoria Road, James Ruse Drive and Old Windsor Road.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Baulkham Hills to Rozelle 00:32:37 00:48:16 1.2 00:13:05 00:50:32 2.0 27.8
Rozelle to Baulkham Hills 00:32:05 00:53:33 1.2 00:11:50 01:02:53 2.1 28.1

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty for journeys from Baulkham Hills to Rozelle were experienced at 4am with a median travel time of 33 minutes and an interquartile range of 13 minutes. The longest median travel times and most uncertainty were in the morning peak at 8am with a median of 48 minutes and an interquartile range of 51 minutes respectively. Delays were most apparent at Drummoyne but were also apparent at Northmead and West Ryde.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling to Baulkham Hills were at 11pm with a median travel time of 32 minutes and an interquartile range of 12 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were at 5pm in the afternoon peak with a median of 54 minutes and an interquartile range of just over an hour respectively. Delays were most apparent at Ryde, Rydalmere and Toongabbie.

Both directions experienced elevated uncertainty throughout business hours, especially travelling to Rozelle.


A6 - Carlingford to Padstow / Padstow to Carlingford

This route traverses Sydney linking Carlingford and Padstow roughly parallel to but more Westerly than the A3. It passes Rydalmere, Lidcombe and Bankstown. This route intersects with the M2, M4 and M7 motorways and passes the Chullora precinct.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Carlingford to Padstow 00:23:22 00:32:51 1.1 00:11:51 00:29:23 1.5 19.9
Padstow to Carlingford 00:22:31 00:35:24 1.3 00:11:26 00:35:55 1.7 20.1

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Carlingford were at 11pm with a median travel time of 23 minutes and an interquartile range of 12 minutes. The longest median travel times were at 2am with a median of 33 minutes and the most uncertainty were in the afternoon peak at 4pm with an interquartile range of 29 minutes. There was also a distinct morning peak. Delays were most apparent at Silverwater and Bankstown and, to a lesser extent, at Dundas Valley.

The best travel times travelling to Carlingford were at 4am with a median travel time of 22.5 minutes and the lowest uncertainty were 5am with an interquartile range of 11 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were at 8am in the morning peak with a median of 35 minutes and an interquartile range of 36 minutes. Delays were most apparent at Punchbowl and Dundas Valley. The afternoon peak was discernible but not prominent.

Like the A3 and A34, the A6 shows a third early morning peak in both directions. This ‘third peak’ showed delays spread throughout the route but slightly more apparent at locations that also saw delays during peak periods. The reasons for this third peak are not apparent.


M1 (North) - Cahill Expressway to M2 / M2 to Cahill Expressway

This route links the Sydney CBD to the Lane Cove Tunnel at the beginning of the M2 via the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, the Warringah Freeway and the Gore Hill Freeway. It is a major commuter route but somewhat less important for freight.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Cahill Expressway to M2 00:06:02 00:10:25 1.3 00:01:27 00:09:25 2.9 7.3
M2 to Cahill Expressway 00:05:56 00:13:13 1.3 00:00:47 00:30:04 10.6 7.3

The best travel times travelling from the CBD (Cahill Expressway) to the M2 were at 11pm with a median travel time of just over 6 minutes and the lowest uncertainty were at 4am with an interquartile range of 1.5 minutes. The longest median travel times were at 4pm with a median of 10 minutes and the greatest uncertainty was at 5pm with an interquartile range of over 9 minutes. Delays were more apparent on the Cahill Expressway and in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from the M2 to the CBD were at 5am with a median travel time of 6 minutes and an interquartile range of less than a minute. The longest median travel times were at 5pm with a median travel time of over 13 minutes and the greatest uncertainty was at 7pm with an interquartile range of just over 30 minutes. Unlike travel out of the CBD (with only one obvious afternoon peak), travel into the CBD had pronounced peaks in both the morning and afternoon. Delays in both peaks were apparent in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel but most pronounced on the Warringah Expressway near Neutral Bay and North Sydney.


M1 (South) - Cahill Expressway to M5 / M5 to Cahill Expressway

This route travels between the east of the CBD and M5 near Sydney Airport via the Eastern Distributor, South Dowling Street and General Holmes Drive.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Cahill Expressway to M5 00:10:07 00:18:54 1.2 00:01:39 00:17:38 4.1 12.1
M5 to Cahill Expressway 00:10:17 00:26:53 1.3 00:02:12 00:34:19 3.5 12.0

The best travel times travelling from the CBD (Cahill Expressway) to the M5 were at 9pm with a median travel time of over 10 minutes and the lowest uncertainty were at 5am an interquartile range of 2 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were at 4pm with a median of 19 minutes and an interquartile range of 18 minutes. Delays were most apparent at the northerly and southerly extremes of the route on General Holmes Drive and the Eastern Distributor.

The best travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from the M5 to the CBD (Cahill Expressway) were at 4am with a median travel time of over 10 minutes and an interquartile range of 2 minutes. The longest median travel times were in the morning peak at 8am with a median of nearly 27 minutes, and uncertainty in the evening at 6pm with an interquartile range of over 34 minutes. Delays in both peaks were most apparent in the southerly part of the route with particular delays near where General Holmes Drive meets Southern Cross Drive.

Like the M1 North, journeys towards the CBD showed much more distinct peak periods than the journey out of the CBD.


M2 - M1 to M7 / M7 to M1

This route runs between the Hills District and Lane Cove connecting the M7 and M2 via the M2 motorway and the Lane Cove Tunnel. It is an important route for both commuter and freight traffic.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
M1 to M7 00:17:23 00:24:51 1.1 00:03:39 00:19:28 1.8 24.5
M7 to M1 00:17:08 00:23:42 1.1 00:02:48 00:16:29 2.6 24.3

The best travel times travelling from the M1 to the M7 were at 12pm with a median travel time of over 17 minutes and the lowest uncertainty were at 4am with an interquartile range of nearly 4 minutes. However, there was little variation from 2am to 2pm and no morning peak. The longest median travel times were at 4pm with a median of nearly 25 minutes and the greatest uncertainty was in the afternoon peak at 5pm with an interquartile range of over 19 minutes. Delays were most apparent at the western end of the route particularly near Pennant Hills Road and Windsor Road.

The best travel times travelling from the M7 to the M1 (Gore Hill Expressway) were at 8pm with a median travel time of 17 minutes and the lowest uncertainty were at 5am with an interquartile range of nearly 3 minutes. The longest median travel times was nearly 24 minutes at 7am and the greatest uncertainty was 8am with an interquartile range of 16.5 minutes. There was also a distinct peak of uncertainty, but not median time, during the afternoon. Delays were most apparent when approaching to the Lane Cove Tunnel at Macquarie Park.


M4 - Glenbrook to Strathfield / Strathfield to Glenbrook

This route runs connects the A32 at Glenbrook with the former terminus of the M4 at Strathfield. It intersects with several north–south routes in this report including the M7, A28 and A6. It does not incorporate Parramatta Road or the City West Link, nor the M4 East tunnel that opened in July 2019.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Glenbrook to Strathfield 00:33:38 00:36:40 1 00:04:40 00:13:04 1.5 45.8
Strathfield to Glenbrook 00:33:41 00:41:08 1 00:05:43 00:18:07 1.4 45.8

The best median travel times and lowest uncertainty travelling from Glenbrook to Strathfield were at 4am with a median travel time of nearly 34 minutes and an interquartile range nearly 5 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were in the morning peak at 7am with a median nearly 37 minutes and an interquartile range of just over 13 minutes. Delays, though mild, were distributed evenly along the route.

The best median travel times from Strathfield to Glenbrook were nearly 34 minutes at 9am and the lowest uncertainty were at 8pm with an interquartile range of nearly 6 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were in the afternoon peak at 5pm with a median of just over 41 minutes and an interquartile range of just over 18 minutes. Delays in the afternoon peak were most apparent between Silverwater and Wentworthville.

Travel times and uncertainty were very similar in both directions throughout most of the day except during the morning peak heading towards Strathfield or the afternoon peak heading towards Glenbrook. Delays in median travel times were more apparent heading towards Glenbrook.


M5 - Hume Motorway to M1 / M1 to Hume Motorway

This route follows the M5 Motorway between the Hume Motorway at Casula and the M1 at General Holmes Drive. It is a major commuter route and also services freight traffic in areas around the Airport and Port Botany.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
Hume Motorway to M1 00:20:50 00:37:11 1.2 00:07:17 00:32:17 2.0 29.3
M1 to Hume Motorway 00:21:23 00:41:05 1.2 00:05:37 00:33:38 2.3 29.3

The best median travel times for journeys from the Hume Motorway to the M1 were 21 minutes at 4am and the lowest uncertainty were at 2am with an interquartile range of over 7 minutes. The longest median travel times was 37 minutes in the morning peak at 6am and the greatest uncertainty was at 8am with an interquartile range of over 32 minutes. Delays were most apparent at the easterly end of the route, especially towards the mouth of the M5 tunnel. There was another, smaller afternoon peak.

The best median travel times for journeys from the M1 to the Hume Motorway were over 21 minutes at 9pm and lowest uncertainty were at 6am with an interquartile range of nearly 6 minutes. The longest median travel times were at 5pm with a median of just over 41 minutes and the greatest uncertainty was at 4pm with an interquartile range of nearly 34 minutes. Delays were again most apparent at the easterly end of the route, but there were also delays in the west between Milperra and Moorebank.

Unlike the eastbound route, the westbound route exhibited no significant morning travel peak. However, there was a clear heightened uncertainty in the early morning which is more obvious westbound. This may have been related to construction work on the M8 tunnel.


M7 - M2 to M5 / M5 to M2

This route follows the M7 Motorway between its confluence with the M2 in the Hills District and Hume Motorway at Casula, skirting much of Western Sydney and crossing the M4 Motorway. It is a major route for intercity freight including trips that do not start or end in Sydney.

Direction Best travel time Longest median travel time METR Least uncertainty travel time Most uncertainty travel time MEUR Distance
M2 to M5 00:23:44 00:33:06 1.1 00:02:02 00:19:22 2.7 38.4
M5 to M2 00:23:59 00:35:52 1.1 00:02:46 00:24:32 2.5 38.5

The best median travel times for journeys from the M2 to the M5 (Hume Motorway) was nearly 24 minutes at 4am and the lowest uncertainty were at 3am with an interquartile range of 2 minutes. The longest median travel times and greatest uncertainty were in the afternoon peak at 4pm with a median of 33 minutes and an interquartile range of over 19 minutes. Delays were most apparent midway along the route around Eastern Creek, south of the M4 Motorway. Travel time and uncertainty were relatively stable throughout the day except the peak in the afternoon.

The best median travel times and the lowest uncertainty travelling from the M5 to the M2 were at 4am with a median of 24 minutes and an interquartile range of nearly 3 minutes. The longest median travel times and highest uncertainty were in the morning peak at 6am with a median nearly 36 minutes and an interquartile range of 24.5 minutes. There was also a smaller peak of uncertainty in the afternoon. Delays were most apparent near the beginning of the M7 near Baulkham Hills, but also apparent just south of Cecil Park.