NSW METROAD 7
Former Alignment: Carlingford to Heathcote

Metroad 7 was introduced in mid-1993 and stretched from the Pacific Highway at Wahroonga to the Princes Highway at Heathcote, via Cumberland Highway, Hume Highway and Heathcote Road, and providing a bypass of eastern Sydney for traffic passing between the Pacific Highway and the Hume and Princes Highways. An RTA promotional brochure described the route of Metroad 7 at the time of its commissioning as follows:

"Heading north, Metroad 7 starts at the junction of Heathcote Rd and the Princes Highway at Heathcote. It proceeds along Heathcote Rd to the South Western Motorway, then along the Motorway to the Hume Highway at Casula, Hume Highway (northwards), Cumberland Highway including Pennant Hills Rd to Wahroonga...where it joins National Highway 1 (Sydney-Newcastle Freeway). Heading south, Metroad 7 follows the same series of roads to Liverpool, where it proceeds from the Hume Highway via Memorial Ave, Scott St and Newbridge Rd to Heathcote Rd."

The link between the Pacific and Princes Highways, forming an alternative route to Metroads 1 & 3, was reinforced by the introduction of the remote focal points of "North Coast" for northbound traffic and "South Coast" for southbound traffic. These focal points were included on all major AD (Advance Directional) signs and many ID (Intersectional Direction) signs, however there were problems with motorists not easily understanding exactly where North Coast and South Coast referred to. As a result, all mentions of "North Coast" were changed to Newcastle (matching the remote focal point on distance signs) and all mentions of "South Coast" were changed to Canberra (north of the M5 Motorway junction). Some "South Coast" signs were retained for Heathcote Road until Metroad 7 was removed along Heathcote Rd in 1999.

The first change to the routing of Metroad 7 came in June 1994 with the opening of the Casula Bypass and an eastbound offramp on the South Western Motorway at the Heathcote Road interchange. Metroad 7 was re-routed at Liverpool, instead using the South Western Motorway (and the new offramp) to get from the Hume Highway to Heathcote Road. As part of the Casula Bypass opening, Metroad 5 was removed from the Hume Highway through Casula and Metroad 7 replaced it. This created a spur for Metroad 7 which allowed Canberra traffic to connect directly to the Hume Highway (National Highway 31) at Glenfield. It was at this time that Metroad 7 began a shift of focus from a Pacific-Princes link to a Pacific-Hume link.

The Pacific to Hume Highway link role of Metroad 7 was further reinforced in 1999, when the last of the Metroads - Metroad 6 - was introduced. As part of Metroad 6's introduction (which extended from Metroad 7 at Carlingford to Metroad 1 at Heathcote), Metroad 7 was removed from Heathcote Road and the South Western Motorway. Metroad 6 replaced Metroad 7 as the more direct link through Sydney between the Pacific and Princes Highways. Thus, the spur of Metroad 7 - Hume Highway from Liverpool to Glenfield - became part of the mainline.

The final change came on 16 December 2005 when the Westlink M7 was opened to traffic, usurping Metroad 7 as the major route through Sydney between the Pacific and Hume Highways. Effective immediately, although taking several months to appear completely on directional signs, Metroad 7 was truncated at the Cumberland Highway/Hills Motorway junction in Beecroft.

Photos showing Metroad 7's former alignments between Carlingford and Heathcote
AD sign southbound on Pennant Hills Rd approaching the M2 Motorway at Carlingford, showing Metroad 7 straight ahead. Dec 2005.
AD sign southbound on Pennant Hills Rd approaching North Rocks Rd at Carlingford. Dec 2005.
AD sign southbound on Pennant Hills Rd approaching Carlingford Rd at Carlingford. Dec 2005.
Distance sign on Pennant Hills Rd, heading north from Carlingford Rd at Carlingford. Sep 2005.
ID signs at the junction of Pennant Hills Rd & Marsden Rd, Carlingford. Dec 2005.
AD sign northbound on Marsden Rd approaching Pennant Hills Rd at Carlingford. Metroad 6 now continues north along Pennant Hills RD to the M2 Motorway, whilst the left-turn here is now unnumbered. Jan 2004.
AD sign northbound on Pennant Hills Rd approaching Marsden Rd at Carlingford. Note the SR28 shield which lasted 13 years beyond its decommissioning in 1993. Dec 2003.
Distance sign with dual road names, southbound on Pennant Hills Rd at Carlingford. Sep 2005.
Diagrammatic AD sign, typical of those installed along Pennant Hills Rd during the late 1980s and early 1990s, eastbound on Pennant Hills Rd at the Carlingford railway overpass. Sep 2005.
AD sign southwestbound on Pennant Hills Rd approaching James Ruse Dr at North Parramatta. Note the incorrect SR40 shield, and the SR55 shield which was decommissioned in June 2004. May 2004.
Lane allocation AD sign northboound on James Ruse Drive approaching Pennant Hills Rd at North Parramatta. Note the use of the "Cumberland Highway" name rather than Pennant Hills Rd or James Ruse Dr. May 2004.
Unusual butterfly gantry signs, northbound on James Ruse Dr at the Pennant Hills Rd interchange. Jan 2004.
AD sign on the southbound offramp from Cumberland Highway (James Ruse Dr) to Pennant Hills Rd. May 2004.
Distance sign heading east from Windsor Rd on James Rude Dr/Cumberland Hwy. Note the use of dual road names - the last such occurance on Cumberland Hwy. March 2005.
Another set of butterfly gantry signs, this time for eastbound Cumberland Highway traffic at the Windsor Rd interchange. Jan 2004.
Distance sign heading west from Windsor Rd. Note there is no road name this time! Sep 2005.
Unusual sign warning through traffic wishing to remain on the Cumberland Highway to merge left - at the junction with Old Windsor Rd 3 lanes continue straight and there is a left-turn slip lane for Cumberland Hwy traffic. Dec 2005.
AD sign southbound on Old Windsor Rd approaching Cumberland Hwy at Old Toongabbie. Mar 2005.
Incorrect Metroad 7 shield (Yuck!) on an ID sign at the Cumberland Hwy/Old Windsor Rd junction. May 2004.
Distance sign heading west from Old Windsor Rd at Wentworthville. Note the unusual use of blue lettering for the word "Junction". June 2004.
Distance sign heading north from Great Western Highway at Wentworthville. May 2004.
AD sign westbound on Great Western Hwy approaching Cumberland Hwy at Wentworthville. Mar 2005.
AD sign northbound approaching Gt Western Hwy. May 2004.
AD sign eastbound on the M4 Motorway approaching the Cumberland Hwy interchange. Oct 2005.
Exit signage on the M4 Motorway for Cumberland Hwy, showing the remote focal points of Canberra and Newcastle (both on coverplates over South Coast and North Coast respectively). June 2004.
ID signs at the Cumberland Hwy/M4 Motorway interchange, showing the old remote focal point of North Coast. Note how capital lettering was used, something that was abandoned prior to the introduction of Metroads. May 2004.
AD sign northbound approaching the M4 Motorway at South Wentworthville. May 2004.
Metroad 7 trailblazer southbound along Jersey Rd in South Wentworthville. June 2004.
AD sign northbound approaching Merrylands Rd at Merrylands West. May 2005.
Distance sign heading south from Merrylands Rd at Merrylands West. May 2005.
Rare ID sign still showing "Goulburn" on the Cumberland Hwy at Victoria St, Smithfield. Goulburn used to be the next focal point beyond Liverpool for Hume Highway traffic, prior to the introduction of the Metroads system in 1992/93. May 2005.
AD sign southbound approaching The Horsley Dr at Smithfield. Note the mention of "South Coast" which should be coverplated with "Canberra". May 2005.
Unusual AD sign eastbound on The Horsley Dr approaching Cumberland Hwy at Smithfield. May 2005.
Diagrammatic AD sign northeastbound on Smithfield Rd approaching Cumberland Hwy at Fairfield West. May 2005.
AD sign northbound approaching Polding St at Fairfield West. Note the mention of "North Coast" which should have been coverplated with either Hornsby or Newcastle. May 2004.
Distance sign southbound on Palmerston Rd at Fairfield West. May 2004.
ID signs at the junction of Cumberland Hwy & Hamilton Rd, Fairfield West. June 2004.
Metroad 7 trailblazer southbound on Joseph St at John St, Cabramatta. June 2004.
Distance sign heading north from Hume Highway. May 2004.
Lane allocation AD sign northbound on Hume Hwy approaching the junction with Cumberland Hwy at Liverpool. May 2004.
Hume Highway westbound approaching Cumberland Hwy at Liverpool. Dec 2005.
AD sign southbound on Hume Hwy approaching Elizabeth Dr at Liverpool. Dec 2005.
AD sign northbound on Hume Hwy approaching Memorial Ave, Liverpool. May 2004.
Lane allocation AD sign northbound on Hume Hwy approaching Macquarie St & Hoxton Park Rd at Liverpool. Note there is no mention of SR54 for Macquarie St - the RTA is probably trying to discourage traffic bound for Moorebank and Milperra from passing through Liverpool CBD. May 2004.
AD sign eastbound on Hoxton Park Rd approaching Hume Hwy at Liverpool. Note the inclusion of SR54 on this sign. May 2005.
AD sign southbound on Hume Highway approaching the M5 Motorway at Casula. Note there is no Metroad 7 shield straight and the Metroad 7 shield for left has been coverplated, as has "South Coast". Dec 2004.
Lane allocation AD sign westbound on the M5 Motorway approaching Hume Hwy at Casula. Apr 2005.
Lane allocation AD sign northbound on Hume Hwy approaching the M5 Motorway at Casula. Aug 2005.
Distance sign southbound on Hume Hwy at Casula. Note that Metroad 5 is covered by a blank coverplate rather than by a Metroad 7 shield (an error). Mar 2005.
Distance sign heading north on Hume Highway at Casula. Note all of the focal points pertain to Metroad 7 rather than the Hume Highway (which goes to Sydney via Bankstown. Dec 2004.
Lane allocation AD sign southbound on Hume Hwy approaching Camden Valley Way (old Hume Hwy) at The Cross Roads. Note that Metroad 7 actually continued along Camden Valley Way to the interchange with the M5 Motorway, however SR89 is shown instead. Dec 2004.
AD sign northbound on Hume Hwy (Campbelltown Rd) approaching Camden Valley Way at The Cross Roads. Note again the preference of signing SR89 rather than Metroad 7 for Camden Valley Way. Jan 2004.
The official beginning of Metroad 7, at the M5 Motorway/Camden Valley Way interchange, Prestons. Oct 2004.
Exit signage northbound on M5 Motorway approaching the Camden Valley Way interchange at Prestons. Dec 2004.
AD sign northbound on Hume Highway approaching the former southern terminus of Metroad 7. Note the use of "Exit To" rather than Camden Valley Way or To Hume Hwy. Dec 2004.
Hume Highway souhtbound approaching Memorial Ave, Liverpool. Southbound Metroad 7 was signed via Memorial Ave, Scott St and Newbridge Rd to reach Heathcote Rd prior to the full opening of the Heathcote Rd interchange in 1994. Metroad 5 is signed straight as it was the dominant route through Casula until it was re-routed onto the Casula Bypass in 1994. Photo taken 1993.
Hume Highway northbound approaching the M5 Motorway at Casula. Photo taken 1999.
Hume Highway northbound approaching the M5 Motorway at Casula. Photo taken 1999.
Remnant Metroad 7 trailblazer on the M5 westbound near Nuwarra Ave, Moorebank. July 2004.
Photocopy of the AD sign on Metroad 5 eastbound approaching Heathcote Rd. 1999.
Exit ID sign on Metroad 5 westbound at the Heathcote Rd interchange. Dec 1993.
Eastbound ID sign for the Heathcote Rd interchange. 1999.
Blank coverplate covering a Metroad 7 shield at Macarthur Dr, Holsworthy. Oct 2004.
Remnant Metroad 7 ID sign at the intersection of Heathcote and New Illawarra Roads, Lucas Heights. July 2004.
Distance sign heading southeast along Heathcote Rd from the New Illawarra Rd intersection at Luca Heights. Note the use of a remote focal point rather than a road name, a practice that seems to have been a failed experiment of the Metroad system. Dec 1998.
The fomer first distance sign northbound on Metroad 7. Again, note the use of a focal point rather than a road name. Dec 1998.

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