Length:

28 km

Termini:

Eastern: City West Link (A4) and Victoria Rd (A4) at Rozelle

Western: Old Windsor Rd (A2), Hills Mwy (M2) and Abbott Rd at Seven Hills

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Rozelle, Drummoyne, Huntleys Point, Gladesville, Ryde, West Ryde, Ermington, Oatlands, North Parramatta, Northmead, Old Toongabbie and Seven Hills

Current: A40

Multiplexed with: A28

Former: 7 40 53 55 77

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

MR165 (Rozelle to Rydalmere),

MR309 (Rydalmere to North Parramatta)

HW13 (North Parramatta to Wentworthville)

MR644 (Wentworthville to Seven Hills)

General Information:

A40 is an arterial route linking the inner western suburbs of Sydney with the city's northwest.

The route consists mostly of divided multi-lane road, and has several features along it such as Iron Cove Bridge and the Gladesville Bridge. The Gladesville Bridge (and the associated Burns Bay Road (former SR21)) were to form part of the F3 Freeway from Sydney to the Hunter Region of NSW.

Gladesville Bridge: ²

Gladesville Bridge is an arch bridge that spans the Parramatta River. At the time of its completion in 1964, Gladesville Bridge was the longest single span concrete arch ever constructed. Gladesville Bridge is the largest of a complex of three bridges, including Fig Tree Bridge and Tarban Creek Bridge, designed to carry a never built North West Freeway.

The current bridge replaced the original Gladesville Bridge, which was completed in 1881. It was about 300 metres to the west of the modern bridge. It featured a swing section on the southern end of the bridge that could be opened to permit sailing ships and steamers with high funnels to pass. It stood on iron cylinders with a sandstone pier at each end of the bridge. The sandstone piers are all that remain today of the original bridge. Construction on the new bridge started in 1959.

Iron Cove Bridge: ²

The original bridge was constructed of wrought iron lattice girders and opened in 1882 after four years of construction. The area was sparsely populated in the 1880s and the opening of the new bridge not only helped accessibility, it provided a new western route to Sydney via Balmain.

A decision to replace the original bridge was made in 1939 just prior to the outbreak of World War II. Design work began in 1942 and construction commenced in 1947. The bridge was officially opened by Hon. J.J. Cahill, MLA, Premier and Colonial Treasurer of NSW on the 30th July, 1955.

A28 (Cumberland Hwy), for 3 km, between Northmead, and Pennant Hills Rd (A28 / Unnumbered) at North Parramatta.

2 October 1964: The Gladesville Bridge, along with Tarban Creek Bridge and Fig Tree Bridge, opened to traffic. The bridges were originally planned by the NSW Department of Main Roads (DMR) to form part of a north-western expressway serving the northern suburbs of Sydney. Whilst the expressway was never built, the Gladesville Bridge, at the time of construction the longest concrete arch bridge in the world. ³

June 1966: Construction of Parramatta River Bridge along Parramatta Bypass, now James Ruse Drive. ⁴

Nov 1975: Construction of Kissing Point Road Interchange at Parramatta. ⁴

June 1977: Construction of James Ruse Drive from Kissing Point Road to Pennant Hills Road at North Parramatta. ⁴

September 1979: Construction of Parramatta Bypass Stage 2 (Pennant Hills Rd to Windsor Rd). ⁴

September 1980: Work on Parramatta Bypass Stage 3 (Windsor Rd interchange and extension to Kleins Rd). ⁴

December 1981: Extension of Briens Rd (now Cumberland Hwy) from Kleins Rd to Old Winsor Rd and Hammers Rd. ⁴

June 1992: Construction of the Kissing Point Rd north-facing ramps on James Ruse Dr. ⁴

December 1992: The James Ruse Dr / Victoria Rd interchange at Rydalmere opened to traffic. ⁴

21 July 1994: James Ruse Drive / Victoria Road Interchange officially opened by then Minister for Main Roads Bruce Baird. ⁵

2007: State Route 40 is split into 2 sections after it was decommissioned between Windsor and Rydalmere. The route was then rerouted via North Parramatta, Northmead, Old Toongabbie and Seven Hills. ⁴

30 January 2011: Inner West Busway was completed and the project open to traffic. ⁶

2013: State Route 40 replaced by A40.

Seven Hills to Rozelle

Advance Directional Sign:

Changeable AD sign at Rozelle approaching The Crescent (A4), March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Rozelle approaching The Crescent (A4), March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

End A40:

Eastern terminus of A40, the junction with The Crescent and Victoria Rd (A40), March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan