Full steam ahead for West Connex stage 1 An artist's impression of theWest Connex project that will connect the M4 through Alexandria to Roselands. THE West Connex project is under way, with the O'Farrell government wasting no time in awarding the first major contract for the project - the Environmental Impact Statement for the first stage - the widening of the existing M4. The contract will go to SMEC/RPC after a competitive tender and the EIS will be ready for public display early next year. A major industry briefing on the project is occurring later this month. The $11.5 billion 10-year project is critical to the state's future and also that of the government so Premier Barry O'Farrell wants to show the government are not mucking around on it. The government has announced it will build the project in three stages - a widening of the M4 which will lead to that section of the road being tolled for the first time since 2010; an M4 East section to the City West Link - a 5km, two-way tunnel with three lanes from Homebush Bay Drive to the City West Link - will start by mid-2015 and finish in 2019. Work on the M5 East Airport link - from Beverly Hills to St Peters - will start in 2016 and end in 2020. To join the two the M4 South will be built - an 8.5km, 2x3 lane tunnel from Haberfield to St Peters. It will start in 2018 with the entire motorway finished by 2023. "The NSW Government is working to get WestConnex underway as soon as possible for frustrated Sydney motorists," Mr O'Farrell said. The awarding of the first major tender follows the approval of the WestConnex business case late last month and the lodgement of the M4 Widening planning application. This is a game-changing project for Western Sydney and for the NSW economy and I'm delighted with the enormous momentum that is now behind the project. Mr O'Farrell also announced the first large-scale industry briefing for all three stages of WestConnex will be held later this month. "WestConnex is the biggest infrastructure project underway anywhere in Australia and industry is keen to be involved," Mr O'Farrell said. The main construction industry briefing for all three stages of WestConnex will be held in late October - it follows two briefings already on the first stage of the project attended by more than 100 industry leaders. The WestConnex industry briefing and engagement process is seeking innovative ideas from the market to deliver value for money for NSW taxpayers. The Premier claimed that he was about to embark on "one of the broadest community consultation programs of any infrastructure project in Australia." "This includes displays in major shopping centres along the M4 corridor, including Westfield Parramatta, Rhodes Shopping Centre, Westfield Penrith, Westfield Burwood, DFO Homebush and Wentworthville Shopping Plaza," he said. These displays will be staffed by Roads & Maritime Services employees, who will be answering questions about the project to members of the public, explaining its benefits and the construction timetable. Advertised public briefings would also be held at Westmead, Five Dock, Burwood, Ashfield and Newington.