The New South Wales (NSW) Government in Australia has reported that the upgraded Richmond Road in Sydney’s north-west has been opened for traffic four years ahead of schedule.

The upgrade works carried out on the 5km-stretch of road included widening Richmond Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided road with a central median.

There is provision for the road to be further widened to six lanes in the future.

Other features of this upgrade works include construction of off-road shared paths to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists as well as upgraded intersections with new traffic lights, and realignment of the Garfield Road West intersection.

The upgrade works were carried over three-and-a-half years and were delivered in two stages. The final stage involved the upgrade between Townson Road and Elara Boulevarde.

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird said: “Families moving into this fast-growing region deserve infrastructure that makes their lives as easy possible.”

Baird further explained that the road upgrades were delivered four years earlier and before new residents and business moved in to the area.

New South Wales Roads Minister Duncan Gay said: “Richmond Road used to be a single lane in each direction so this upgrade was absolutely essential to support Sydney’s newest suburbs."

"Richmond Road used to be a single lane in each direction so this upgrade was absolutely essential to support Sydney’s newest suburbs."

Gay also said that the Richmond Road was vital, as it served as a connector between new employment and housing lands at Marsden Park with the M7.

In future, nearly 70,000 new homes are expected to be built in Schofields, Riverstone and Marsden Park.

Currently, A$340m ($250.6m) upgrade works are being carried on Schofields Road and it is due for completion in mid-2018.

Image: Richmond Road opens to traffic four years ahead of schedule. Photo: courtesy of State of New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet.