A joint venture (JV) between Ertech and Georgiou Group has secured a contract for the construction of Stage 4 A$1.6bn ($1.18bn) of the Northern Road upgrade, between Mersey Road at Bringelly and Eaton Road at Luddenham in western Sydney, Australia.

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said that the upgrade is an essential piece as the government’s A$5.3bn ($3.9bn) Western Sydney Airport takes shape.

The project will provide greater network capacity to meet future demand and improved infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey.

“The upgrade between Mersey Road at Bringelly and Eaton Road at Luddenham is anticipated to begin in October and slated for completion in early 2021.”

Fletcher said: “A 5.7km stretch of the Northern Road will be realigned and new access points to the site of the Western Sydney Airport will be built, ensuring the airport can be completed, as planned, in the mid-2020s.

“We want to ensure that Western Sydney can capitalise on the enormous economic benefits that this airport will bring, which is why we are investing A$3.6bn ($2.6bn) in the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan to build and upgrade roads around the new airport.”

The upgrade between Mersey Road at Bringelly and Eaton Road at Luddenham is anticipated to begin in October and slated for completion in early 2021.

Hume Federal Member Angus Taylor said: “Following the opening in early April this year of the upgraded section of the Northern Road between the Old Northern Road and Peter Brock Drive, work on upgrading the road between Peter Brock Drive and Mersey Road, and between Glenmore Parkway and Jamison Road, is progressing well.”

The Australian and NSW governments have been building a number of new and upgraded roads aiming to improve transport for western Sydney residents.