Australia’s Roads and Maritime Services has announced that the first stage of work on an upgrade of the intersection of the Cumberland Highway and Cabramatta Road at Cabramatta is set to start.

As part of the project, the third northbound lane on the Cumberland Highway from Cabramatta Road will be extended to the bridge over Cabramatta Creek.

Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson said that the New South Wales (NSW) Government will provide A$3.5m ($2.64m) this financial year for the project as part of its A$246m ($186m) Pinch Point and Clearways programme.

"The project is expected to improve traffic flow for around 48,000 vehicles that travel on the Cumberland Highway every week day."

The programme aims to reduce traffic delays, manage congestion in addition to improving travel times on major roads in Sydney.

The spokesperson said: “The Cumberland Highway is a significant route for local road users in South West Sydney, as well as being a key connection between the Pacific Highway at Wahroonga and the Hume Highway at Liverpool.

“On Cabramatta Road the westbound right turn bay will be extended and the eastbound right turn bay will be duplicated to improve traffic movements through the intersection.”

The project is expected to improve traffic flow for around 48,000 vehicles that travel on the Cumberland Highway every week day.

It will also involve changes to the existing merge from south of the intersection with Cabramatta Road to south of the bridge over Cabramatta Creek.

The project is slated for completion by late next year.