First Accident on the F5

The new section of the F5 freeway from Campbelltown to Yanderra opened on 15 December 1980. The new stretch was opened by Premier Neville Wran, with large queues of cars banked up for kilometres waiting for the opening. The new section reduced travel times greatly, but unfortunately accidents on the freeway still occur. Strangely however, the first accident on the freeway happened BEFORE the official opening. 

On the weekend before the opening, Sergeant Olivera and Constable Bailey were patrolling the new section at the request of the Department of Main Roads. The DMR had been concerned that people may have misused the freeway before its official opening. About 12 kilometres south of Campbelltown, a kangaroo appeared from the grass on the eastern side of the road directly in the path of the police car. Despite braking, the police car was unable to avoid hitting the kangaroo. It died instantly. Damage to the police car was minor and neither officer was injured.

Looking north from the bridge over construction of the F5 Freeway at Menangle Park in 1976. (Trevor Richardson Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Source: Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, 16 December 1980, p1

Freeway Opens

The first 9.8km long section of the F5 from The Cross Roads to Raby Road was opened to traffic on 26 October 1973. Costing $13.1 million dollars and taking four years to complete, this was the first of three stages and first section of the F5 Freeway to be opened. The second section between Raby Road and Camden Road at Kenny Hill was opened the following year.

Workmen apparently toiled into the early hours of the morning before that day's opening under floodlights and car headlights to finish the last quarter mile section of roadway. As usual the opening occurred amid claims that it was an election gimmick for the following month's state election. Predictably, the minister refuted these claims.

The Campbelltown Ingleburn News reported that 'At 9.30am the covers came off the huge signs erected at the expressway entrances and a trickle of traffic began using the new road. Most drivers chose the old route through Ingleburn Army Camp apparently (because of the huge crowds of workmen near the entrances) unaware the new freeway was open.' Construction of the new section required building nine bridges, including building twin bridges over Aero Road and Bunbury Curran Creek.

Site of F5 Freeway west of Campbelltown prior to its construction. This photograph was probably taken in the late 1960s.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown Ingleburn News October 31, 1973

Journal of the Department of Main Roads, Vol. 46 No. 1, March 1981