Last month, the tunnel on Sydney’s M4 motorway between Homebush and Haberfield was opened.
It is an extension of the M4 motorway between Parramatta and Homebush, as a part of the WestConnex plan – Australia’s largest transport infrastructure project.
The project consists of twin tunnels with three lanes in each direction, and a total length of 6.5km.
It has created up to 4,000 new jobs and will help to decongest traffic in Sydney and reduce surface truck traffic.
As part of this ambitious project, SICE has implemented its renowned Operations & Management Software (OMCS) SIDERA platform. This platform has seen excellent results in the management of more than 2,500km of roads and more than 300km of tunnels around the world.
One of the unique features of this project is the implementation of a communications protocol that will be used in all WestConnex branches to control each section from a single control centre, called the Integrated OMCS (IOMCS).
In 2020, the M5 North section of the WestConnex will also be inaugurated which will connect St Peters with Beverly Hills, and in 2023 a final section linking the M4 and M5 will be completed.
For the development of WestConnex, SICE has worked to integrate equipment previously installed in the M4 West section (which is not operated by SICE) into our SIDERA Operation & Management Software (OMCS).
The integration of this equipment in SIDERA will allow for centralised management of all the sections via the IOMCS.
In addition to the development of control software, the SICE team has worked against the clock to implement the rest of the tunnel’s control systems in its scope. These include the communications network, PLCs, vehicle detection systems, signalling, emergency telephones and video surveillance (CCTV), amongst others.
After the opening of the tunnel, SICE will continue to fine-tune the system, adjust it as required and perform maintenance until at least 2026.
Since the project began in February 2016, SICE’s team has grown exponentially to meet the installation and commissioning requirements and create unique tools and solutions in response to the needs of a project such as WestConnex.
