What is "westconnex"

WestConnex is a motorway scheme currently under construction in Sydney, Australia. The scheme, a joint project of the New South Wales and Australian governments, encompasses widening and extension of the M4 Western Motorway, a new section for the M5 South Western Motorway, and a new inner western bypass of the Sydney CBD connecting the M4 and M5. Together, these projects would build or upgrade some 33 kilometres to the Sydney motorway network. The total cost of WestConnex is estimated at $16.8 billion; The initial M4 Widening and King Georges Road Interchange Upgrades began construction in 2015 and are due for completion in 2017; The M4 East and New M5 Tunnel stages started work in mid-2016 and are due for completion in 2019 and 2020 respectively; the final stages, M4–M5 link, Iron Cove Link and Sydney Gateway are expected to begin construction in 2019 and be completed by 2023. Described as "the biggest transport project in Sydney since the Harbour Bridge" and costing "in current dollars, double the Snowy River scheme", the project has been widely criticised on economic, social and process grounds and has been the subject of escalating public protest.