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Slow going predicted for Sydney roads

Newly released modelling provided exclusively to 7News predicts Sydneysiders are headed for a highway heart attack.

The government document predicts congestion on major arteries such as the M4 will be at average speeds of little as 18km/h by 2036.

This won’t just be when there are accidents, but during peak hour every day of the week.

It will be similar in the north-west of Sydney. From Winston Hills it’s predicted almost the entire trip will average less than 20km/h. In some sections it might rise to 30.

From Campbelltown, count on 30km/h to Macquarie Fields then it will slow down to an average of 20km/h to the airport.

Peak speeds are also set to dip below 20km/h an hour on:

  • Canterbury Road

  • Georges River Road

  • Fairford Road

  • King Georges Road.

Experts say big spending, funded by a total power sell-off is the only way to save our streets.

Brendon Lyon from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia told 7News: "And that would allow us to begin to progress projects like the M5 East connection to the airport 5.2 billion, the M4 east, more than 10 billion."

To avoid a frustrating future on Sydney's roads, governments must spend billions of dollars. Even further, experts say it requires a radical rethink on the way we get around."

Stephen Greaves from the University of Sydney says: "We now live in a society where we can do a lot of work at home, we have opportunities for flexible hours, maybe they can start staggering school times like they do in other countries."

The government says it has a plan to ensure the predictions don't come true.

Check out this map for further information about how the modelling will affect your area.