Premier Barry O'Farrell on a previous visit to announce works on Richmond Road.
Work on the Richmond Road upgrade has begun earlier than expected but not a moment too soon.
Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell and Roads Minister Duncan Gay made the trip to Marsden Park to launch the much-anticipated project on Saturday.
‘‘We brought forward this vital project because of its importance to supporting new housing and employment lands in western Sydney,’’ Mr O’Farrell said.
‘‘Richmond Road is a key arterial road for the North West Growth Centre – it will link the new residential and employment lands to the M7.’’
The $46 million first stage was started between Bells Creek and Townson Road at Marsden Park.
The first stage will duplicate the two-lane road to four lanes for another 1.9 kilometres.
Mr Gay said the upgrade would support the construction of more than 12,000 new homes and 10,000 jobs in the north-west.
Roads Minister Duncan Gay said new housing and employment areas were rapidly developing along Richmond Road.
Work will include an intersection with traffic lights at Townson Road and intersections to serve the Colebee Precinct and Marsden Park Industrial precinct.
The upgrade has been wanted by motorists and Blacktown Council for a decade and was originally planned to start in 2016.
Work on stage two is expected to start in mid-2014 and be completed during 2015/16.