Billion dollar upgrades to The Northern and Bringelly roads are among Australia’s highest priority infrastructure projects, according to the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed the inclusion of the projects in Infrastructure Australia’s updated Priority List which he says will become the reference point for the most important infrastructure investments the nation needs over the next 15 years.

“This is an objective and evidence-based list of projects that confirms the Government is investing billions of dollars in the right areas … on projects that have substantial strategic merit and are of national significance,” Mr Taylor said.

• Click here: Angus Taylor on Sky News talking about Infrastructure Australia’s Priority List 

Infrastructure Australia chairman Mark Birrell said the Northern Road upgrade was a project that is “another important step” in harnessing the expected population and employment growth in outer Western Sydney.

Mr Taylor, also the Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, said an emerging city around Western Sydney Airport represented a generational opportunity to build infrastructure and housing that delivers a ‘30 minute’ commute between home, work and the services we use every day.

“The upgrades of The Northern and Bringelly roads are essential to this vision we have for outer Western Sydney, bringing reduced traffic congestion, more affordable homes, more green spaces – and jobs closer to where we live,” he said.

The $1.6 billion, 35km upgrade of The Northern Road is generating more than $30 million worth of contracts for Western Sydney suppliers and contractors.

Stage 2 of the $509 million Bringelly Road upgrade involves the upgrading of the remaining 4.3km section between King Street and The Northern Road to a four-lane divided carriageway.

Both projects are expected to be completed by 2020.

“The Federal Government is revitalising roads in one of Australia’s fastest growing regions ahead of the Western Sydney Airport in the mid 2020s,” Mr Taylor said.

“With the New South Wales Government, we are investing more than $3.6 billion in Western Sydney road infrastructure.

“We are seeing significant progress on road projects that has seen local businesses already capitalising on the upgrades designed to transform growing population areas and service the planned Western Sydney Airport.”

Infrastructure Australia’s newly revised Infrastructure Priority List can be found here.