Statistics:

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

Route Numbering:

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.

Multiplexes along the route include:
A28 (Cumberland Hwy), for 3 km, between Northmead, and Pennant Hills Rd (A28 / Unnumbered) at North Parramatta.

History:

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.

Click or tap here for the former alignment at Rozelle

Rozelle to Seven Hills

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on James Ruse Dr at Parramatta approaching the interchange with Victoria Rd (A40) and James Ruse Dr (A40), March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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James Ruse Drive:

James Ruse Dr at Parramatta at the interchange with Victoria Rd (A40) and James Ruse Dr (A40), March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Kissing Point Road:

James Ruse Dr (A40) at the Kissing Point Rd / Pennant St interchange, Parramatta, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at North Parramatta approaching Pennant Hills Rd (A28), March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Pennant Hills Road:

James Ruse Dr (A40 / A28) at Pennant Hills Rd Interchange, North Parramatta, March 2017. The A28 duplex starts here.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on James Ruse Dr (A40 / A28) at North Parramatta approaching Windsor Rd interchange, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Windsor Road:

James Ruse Dr (A40 / A28) at Windsor Rd interchange, North Parramatta, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at Northmead on the Windsor Rd interchange, January 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Distance Sign:

RD sign at Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the unnumbered section of Briens Rd, Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Briens Road:

Corner of Briens Rd (A28 / A40) and the unnumbered section of Briens Rd at Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Northmead approaching Old Windsor Rd (A40), September 2013. The A40 duplex ends at this junction.

Image © Paul Rands

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Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at Northmead at the junction with Old Windsor Rd (A40), September 2013. The A40 duplex ends at this junction.

Image © Paul Rands

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Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign on Old Windsor Rd (A40) near Hammers Rd in Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign facing Fitzwilliam Rd in Old Toongabbie, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Powers Road:

Old Windsor Rd (A40) at the Powers Rd junction in Winston Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Powers Road:

Old Windsor Rd (A40) at the Powers Rd junction in Winston Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Powers Road:

Old Windsor Rd (A40) at the Powers Rd junction in Winston Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Abbott Rd, Hills Mwy (M2) and the A2 section of Old Windsor Rd, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Abbott Road & Hills Motorway:

Corner of Old Windsor Rd (A40 and A2), Hills Mwy (M2) and Abbott Rd in Seven Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Abbott Road & Hills Motorway:

Corner of Old Windsor Rd (A40 and A2), Hills Mwy (M2) and Abbott Rd in Seven Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Abbott Rd approaching Hills Mwy (M2) and Old Windsor Rd (A2 and A40), September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Abbott Road & Hills Motorway:

Corner of Old Windsor Rd (A40 and A2), Hills Mwy (M2) and Abbott Rd in Seven Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Abbott Road & Hills Motorway:

Corner of Old Windsor Rd (A40 and A2), Hills Mwy (M2) and Abbott Rd in Seven Hills, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Abbott Road & Hills Motorway:

Corner of Old Windsor Rd (A40 and A2), Hills Mwy (M2) and Abbott Rd in Seven Hills, December 2013.

Image © Spenser Tan

Seven Hills to Rozelle

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the unnumbered section of Briens Rd, Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Windsor Rd (A40) approaching Cumberland Hwy (A28 / A40), February 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Briens Road:

Corner of Briens Rd (Cumberland Hwy) (A28 / A40) and the unnumbered section of Briens Rd at Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Windsor Rd (unnumbered) at Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Old Windsor Road Interchange:

Briens Rd (A28 / A40) at the Windsor Rd interchange in Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Old Windsor Road Interchange:

Briens Rd (A28 / A40) at the Windsor Rd interchange in Northmead, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Entering North Parramatta:

James Ruse Dr (A28 / A40) as it enters the suburb of North Parramatta, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign showing dual names at North Parramatta, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Lackey Street:

James Ruse Dr at the Lackey St overpass at North Parramatta, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the Pennant Hills Rd (A28) interchange in North Parramatta, January 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the Pennant Hills Rd (A28) interchange in North Parramatta, September 2013. The A40 duplex ends at this interchange and A28 veers left.

Image © Paul Rands

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at West Ryde on Marsden Rd approaching Victoria Rd (A40) and Wharf Rd, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the corner of Victoria Rd (A40) and Devlin St (A3) at Ryde, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Huntleys Cove approaching Burns Bay Rd, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Drummoyne approaching Westbourne St, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on Victoria Rd (A40) at Rozelle, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Rozelle approaching Darling St, March 2017.

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

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

Image © Spenser Tan

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Advance Directional Sign:

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

Image © Spenser Tan

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End A40:

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

Image © Spenser Tan

1 NSW Government, Transport for NSW, Schedule of Classified Roads And State and Regional Roads, July 2022.
2 Seven Bridges Walk, Bridge History.
3 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, RTA Oral History Program, Gladesville Bridge
4 Sam Laybutt (OzRoads).
5 Tyler Bullock.
6 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Inner West Busway Victoria Road.