View source for M2 Hills Motorway

{{Short description|Motorway in Sydney, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| road_name    = Hills Motorway
| type         = motorway
| urban        = yes
| state        = nsw
| route_image  = Australian motorway HILLS M2.jpg
| image        = (1)M2 Motorway.jpg
| caption      = Toll gantries at Macquarie Park
| length       = 19.3
| length_ref   = <ref name="gmaps">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-33.7682061,150.9655565/-33.7997978,151.1419629/@-33.7701032,151.019272,13z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0 |title=M2 Hills Motorway |access-date=17 January 2016}}</ref>
| est          = 26 May 1997<ref name="TreasuryPPP" />
| gazetted     = 28 June 1993
| gazetted_ref = <ref name="nswgovgaz93">{{cite news |title=State Roads Act |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231922465 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=72 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=30 June 1993 |pages=3337 |access-date=6 November 2023 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106044902/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231922465 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| route        = {{AUshield|NSW|M2}} M2 {{small|(2013–present)}}
| former       = {{AUshield|Met|2}} Metroad 2 {{small|(1997–2013)}}
| mapframe     = no
| coordinates_a = {{coord|-33.766478|150.964131|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| coordinates_b = {{coord|-33.799767|151.141996|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| alternative_location_map=Australia Sydney
| pushpin_label_position_a = left
| pushpin_label_position_b = right
| direction_a  = West
| direction_b  = East
| end_a        = {{AUshield|NSW|M7}} '''[[Westlink M7]]'''<br />{{small|[[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills, Sydney]]}}
| end_b        = {{AUshield|NSW|M2}} '''[[Lane Cove Tunnel]]'''<br />{{small|[[North Ryde, New South Wales|North Ryde, Sydney]]}}
| exits        = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|NSW|A2|NSW|A40}} [[Old Windsor Road]]
*{{AUshield|NSW|A28}} [[Cumberland Highway]]
*{{AUshield|NSW|M11}} [[NorthConnex]]
*{{AUshield|NSW|A3}} [[A3 (Sydney)|Lane Cove Road]]
*{{AUshield|NSW|A38}} [[A38 (Sydney)|Delhi Road]]}}
| through      = {{NSWcity|Epping|Beecroft|Carlingford|Baulkham Hills}}
}}

'''M2 Hills Motorway''' is a {{convert|19.3|km|mi|adj=mid}}<ref name="gmaps" /> [[Toll road|tolled]] urban [[motorway]] in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] that is part of the [[Sydney Orbital Network]] and the [[National Highway (Australia)|National Highway]] west of [[Pennant Hills Road]]. Owned by toll road operator [[Transurban]], it forms majority of Sydney's [[M2 (Sydney)|M2]] route, with the [[Lane Cove Tunnel]] constituting the rest of the M2 route. 

==Route==
M2 Hills Motorway connects directly with the [[Westlink M7]] in [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]] and heads southeast as a four-lane dual-carriageway road through [[Baulkham Hills, New South Wales|Baulkham Hills]], widening to six lanes past the interchange with Windsor Road, and then in an easterly direction to [[Beecroft, New South Wales|Beecroft]], where it meets an interchange with both [[Pennant Hills Road]] and the [[NorthConnex]] tunnel. It continues south-east past [[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]] and through [[Macquarie Park, New South Wales|Macquarie Park]], narrowing back to four lanes past the interchange with [[Lane Cove Road]], to eventually dive under [[Epping Road]] and cross the [[Lane Cove River]] in [[North Ryde, New South Wales|North Ryde]], where it connects directly to the [[Lane Cove Tunnel]]. The motorway runs underneath the suburb of [[North Epping, New South Wales|North Epping]] via {{convert|460|m|adj=on}} twin tunnels known as the Epping/Norfolk tunnels.<ref name=linkt_m2/>

The [[M2 cycleway]] is located on the breakdown lanes of the M2 Hills Motorway.

==History==
[[File:M2 Motorway Sydney.jpg|thumb|View heading eastbound along the M2 motorway]]

===Castlereagh Freeway===
Road approaches from Sydney's [[Western Sydney|western suburbs]] were originally slow and traffic passed through [[Parramatta, New South Wales|Parramatta]] and to the city centre via [[Victoria Road, Sydney|Victoria Road]] and [[M4 Motorway (Sydney)|Western Freeway]]. Parramatta was bypassed in 1986, however peak hour traffic still clogged up Victoria Road and all western approaches to Sydney.

Proposals for an F2 Castlereagh Freeway were released in 1968. The freeway would branch from the proposed [[Lane Cove Valley Expressway]] (F3) near Herring Road at North Ryde (now Macquarie Park), and head west towards the western suburbs as far as [[Londonderry, New South Wales|Londonderry]] at the foot of the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/Special/Unbuilt/F3/lcv.htm | title = NORTH WESTERN AND LANE COVE VALLEY EXPRESSWAYS: A cancelled freeway plan from the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme | publisher = OzRoads}}{{Self-published source|date=October 2013}}</ref>

Protests in 1974 led to suspension of works and cancellation of Lane Cove Valley Expressway in 1977. The Castlereagh Freeway proposal was thus extended eastwards over the Lane Cove Valley Expressway corridor to the junction of Epping Road and Pittwater Road near the [[TEN (TV station)|Channel 10]] North Ryde site. A possible connection to [[Fig Tree Bridge]] was also considered.

====1989 Proposal====
Land for the F2 freeway was purchased by [[NSW Government]] in 1988 and the road from Gladesville Bridge to Hunters Hill ([[Fig Tree Bridge]]) was built to freeway-style standards. Between June and July 1989, the newly formed [[Roads & Traffic Authority]] (RTA) exhibited the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that proposed a 11.5&nbsp;km four-lane Castlereagh Freeway between Pennant Hills Road and Lane Cove River at North Ryde, known as F2 Stage 1.<ref name=rta_may1993>{{cite web|url=https://media.opengov.nsw.gov.au/pairtree_root/88/ad/a3/00/20/25/42/45/aa/c8/9e/0c/8e/43/85/79/obj/168068.pdf|title=North West Transport Link - Environmental Impact Assessment Report|website=OpenGov NSW|publisher=NSW Roads & Traffic Authority|pages=11–25|date=May 1993|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref> In the proposal, the link to [[Epping Road]] at Marsfield, and the link to Fig Tree Bridge at Hunters Hill were abandoned.<ref name=jul1990>{{cite web|url=https://media.opengov.nsw.gov.au/pairtree_root/e6/58/e4/35/1d/05/48/05/92/dd/9d/10/58/a2/01/c9/obj/169247.pdf|title=A Proposed Expressway from Pennant Hills Road, Beecroft to Pittwater Road, Ryde known as the F2 Stage 1|website=OpenGov NSW|publisher=Commissioners of Inquiry for Environment and Planning|date=July 1990|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>

Subsequently, a Commission of Inquiry on the 1989 proposal was set up and chaired by the commissioner [[John Woodward (lawyer)|John Woodward]]. In July 1990, the commissioner released a report recommending that the freeway should not be built, but instead upgrade the east–west road system between Pennant Hills Road and Epping Road at North Ryde. The report stressed that the findings only applied to the 1989 proposal (i.e. east of Pennant Hills Road) and "should not be taken in any way to be a judgment on the construction of the roadway west of Pennant Hills Road".<ref name=rta_may1993/><ref name=jul1990/>

The commission also mentioned that if an expressway were to be built, North Epping residents had indicated that they would prefer a tunnel under the locality instead of a cut and fill which they deemed excessive. The commission was also in support of a tunnel if the expressway was to be built. The tunnel was incorporated in later design proposals and was eventually built as the Epping/Norfolk Tunnel.<ref name=jul1990/><ref name=linkt_m2/>

===1992 Proposal===
In September 1990, the [[Minister for Roads (New South Wales)|Minister of Roads]] [[Wal Murray]] announced a preparation of a new EIS for a transport link for Sydney's North West region, later known as the '''North West Transport Link'''. The transport link was proposed to connect [[Old Windsor Road]] in [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]] to [[Epping Road]] in [[North Ryde]], bypassing Carlingford and Epping Roads.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.opengov.nsw.gov.au/pairtree_root/59/30/cc/58/5e/41/46/10/bd/bc/0e/30/f4/5d/03/73/obj/168091.pdf|title=North West Transport Link Western Section - Civil Engineering Working Paper|publisher=SMEC|website=OpenGov NSW|date=March 1992|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> The proposed link would continue eastwards onto Epping Road, then would connect with Gore Hill Freeway at [[Artarmon]], which led to [[Warringah Freeway]] at [[North Sydney, New South Wales|North Sydney]] and [[Bradfield Highway (Sydney)|Bradfield Highway]], the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]] and the [[Sydney central business district]].

Environmental impact assessments were done separately for the section between Old Windsor Road and [[Pennant Hills Road]] (western section) and the section between Pennant Hills Road and Epping Road (eastern section), by [[SMEC Holdings|SMEC]] and Maunsell respectively. However, the two assessments were to be done in cooperation to ensure integration of the proposal.<ref name=rta_may1993/>

====Western Section====
There were three shortlisted options for utilising the Castlereagh Freeway reserve between Old Windsor Road and Pennant Hills Road in the western section:<ref name=eis_western>{{cite web|url=https://media.opengov.nsw.gov.au/pairtree_root/71/0b/05/f6/06/f7/4e/4f/9e/f7/16/9a/02/78/24/37/obj/166323.pdf|title=North West Transport Link - Pennant Hills Road to Old Windsor Road - Environmental Impact Statement|website=OpenGov NSW|publisher=NSW Roads & Traffic Authority|page=vi, 103, 129–168|date=1992|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>
*'''Option 1:''' Four-lane expressway via the reserve with a busway in the median, continuing to a proposed expressway east of Pennant Hills Road (i.e. eastern section). No toll and two toll options were considered for this alternative.
*'''Option 2:''' Four-lane expressway via the reserve, terminating at Pennant Hills Road. Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford Road and Epping Road would be upgraded and continue as the arterial route east of the expressway. The busway would be in the median between Old Windsor Road and Barclays Road, before continuing along Barclays, North Rocks, Pennant Hills, and Carlingford Roads. This alternative would not be tolled.
*'''Option 3:''' Arterial road via the reserve between Old Windsor Road and Barclays Road, before continuing along Barclays, North Rocks, Pennant Hills, and Carlingford Roads. Exclusive bus lanes would be provided on the kerb lanes of the new road.

Option 3 was evaluated to have the least environmental impact but have the worst transport efficiency and safety out of the three; it also received little support from the community.<ref name=eis_western/> As such, Option 3 was eliminated from further evaluation and detailed assessment. Option 1 was eventually chosen as the design of the expressway.

====Eastern Section====
During the assessment, the 1989 proposal was not considered.<ref name=rta_may1993/>

One busway lane in each direction would be in the centre of the expressway between Pennant Hills Road and Beecroft Road, continuing from the proposed busway in the western section. The busway would leave the expressway and would lead via Beecroft Road to a bus interchange at [[Epping railway station, Sydney|Epping Station]]. It would be constructed to allow for a future conversion to light rail. Grade-separated interchanges would be built at Delhi Road, [[Lane Cove Road]], Balaclava Road (now Christie Road) and Beecroft Road. The eastern section will connect to the western section at the grade-separated Pennant Hills Road interchange.

===Construction===
In May 1993, the government announced that the road would be constructed with private funds using a [[Build-operate-transfer|Build Own Operate Transfer]]. The government then entered into an agreement with Hills Motorway Limited to build and operate the M2 for 45 years, before ownership reverted to the government.

A two-lane busway was built in the median between [[Windsor Road (Sydney)|Windsor Road]] to Beecroft Road with a connection to [[Epping railway station, Sydney|Epping railway station]]. There were dedicated access ramps for buses, which were removed in 2012 during road works to widen the motorway.<ref name=casestudy>{{cite web | url = http://svc012.wic014v.server-web.com/DisplayFile.aspx?FileID=27 | title = INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIPS AUSTRALIA-CASE STUDIES (Hills M2 Motorway, Sydney)}}</ref> Mahers Road in Carlingford, running east–west along the southern boundary of Pennant Hills Golf Course, was subsumed into the new expressway. Pennant Hills Road was also realigned near Mahers Road, with the old section of the road now known as Mahers Close.

====Protests====
There was strong community opposition to the construction of the motorway by local residents and environment groups including the Nature Conservation Council, as the route would destroy a vast area of valuable urban bushland, the money would be better spent on public transport infrastructure and the air pollution from private motor vehicles would contribute to global warming.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Iain |date=2020-11-04 |title=Environmental Blockading in Australia and Around the World - Timeline 1974-1997 |url=https://commonslibrary.org/environmental-blockading-in-australia-and-around-the-world-timeline-1974-1997/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}}</ref>  There were also fears the bus lanes might be removed in the future to provide additional capacity for private vehicles. "Freeway Busters" was one of the groups that organised protests, including two "Cyclestormings" of the construction site by hundreds of cyclists. The opening ceremony of the tollway in 1997, a champagne breakfast for conservative dignitaries including Alan Jones and a "celebrity drive-through" featuring swimmer Susie Maroney, was disrupted by sound systems mounted high in gum trees, playing the sound of car crashes, ambulance sirens and jack-hammers. After the motorway opened, cyclists also protested the toll which the operators charged cyclists by occupying the toll plaza. This protest was successful, and the toll was subsequently dropped.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

===Operation===
The project was opened on 26 May 1997.<ref name="TreasuryPPP">{{cite web | url = http://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/ppp/nsw_projects/projects_which_have_been_awarded/roads/M2_Motorway | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140218000952/http://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/ppp/nsw_projects/projects_which_have_been_awarded/roads/M2_Motorway | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2014-02-18 | title = M2 Motorway PPP }}</ref> After opening, the road's usage had been nearly 30% below forecasts in a 1994 prospectus, however, morning peak traffic had sometimes exceeded those same forecasts for short bursts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/spat-takes-its-toll-on-m2-19980626-k84y3|title=Spat takes its toll on M2|publisher=Australian Financial Review|date=26 June 1998|access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref>

The passing of the ''Roads Act of 1993''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033 State of New South Wales, ''An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, the [[Roads & Traffic Authority]] (later [[Transport for NSW]]) declared the Hills Motorway as Tollway 6002, from its interchange with [[Old Windsor Road]] in [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]] to the interchange with the [[Epping Road]] in [[North Ryde, New South Wales|North Ryde]], on 28 June 1993, nearly four years before it had officially opened;<ref name="nswgovgaz93" /> the tollway today still retains this declaration.<ref name="nswroadsched">{{cite web |url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |author=[[Transport for NSW]] |date=August 2022 |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104657/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In May 2024, the NSW Government Gazette revoked the declaration of the tollway on one parcel of land.<ref>https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2024_2024-174.pdf</ref>

The [[Westlink M7]], opened on 16 December 2005, continues along the original Castlereagh Freeway alignment from [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]] to [[Dean Park, New South Wales|Dean Park]], where the M7 turns south away from the Castlereagh Freeway corridor towards the [[M5 Motorway (Sydney)|M5 South-West Motorway]] and [[Hume Highway|Hume Motorway]] at [[Prestons, New South Wales|Prestons]]. The unused but still-reserved corridor continues west and passes north of suburbs including [[Shalvey, New South Wales|Shalvey]] and [[Willmot, New South Wales|Willmot]], continuing west past [[Llandilo, New South Wales|Llandilo]] to stop abruptly near [[Londonderry, New South Wales|Londonderry]] at the foot of the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]].

The [[Lane Cove Tunnel]], which linked the motorway directly to [[Gore Hill Freeway]] at [[Lane Cove]], opened on 25 March 2007.

A third traffic lane westbound between the Lane Cove Road and Beecroft Road interchanges which utilises a former cycling/breakdown lane opened in April 2007. This change was criticised by cyclists, who were required to use an alternative route as a result, and by some motorists who have said that the addition of a third lane will [[induced traffic|induce more traffic]] and would only shift the bottleneck further down the motorway as a result of assisting and maintaining free-flowing traffic from the Lane Cove Tunnel.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} A speed camera to enforce the 70&nbsp;km/h limit was introduced on the westbound carriageway just before the Epping/Norfolk Road tunnel.{{when|date=March 2013}}

Tolling became fully cashless with no toll booths 30 January 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hillsm2.com.au/cashless.htm|title = Lane Cove Tunnel - Linkt}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/Freeways/M2/m2.htm | title = M2 Hills Motorway | publisher = Ozroads | access-date = 30 August 2011}}{{Self-published source|date=October 2013}}</ref> Transurban had originally proposed that it would become cashless from December 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hillsm2.com.au/transurban_online/ne5nav_hills.nsf/LinkView/7701C3D3519B46E2CA2572C80075D69CABD5DAB709F88F70CA25703E0064DA30 |title=not know |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705000527/http://www.hillsm2.com.au/transurban_online/ne5nav_hills.nsf/LinkView/7701C3D3519B46E2CA2572C80075D69CABD5DAB709F88F70CA25703E0064DA30 |archive-date=5 July 2007 }}</ref>

A major upgrade started in January 2011, with more on-and off-ramps being built, including off-ramps onto Windsor Road eastbound, which was completed in July 2012,<ref>[http://www.hillsnews.com.au/story/246883/m2-opened-to-the-hills-with-new-access-ramps/ M2 opened to the Hills with the new access ramps], ''Hills News''. Retrieved 15 June 2013</ref> and a westbound off-ramp and eastbound on-ramp at Macquarie Park, which were completed in January 2013.<ref>[http://www.announcements.mq.edu.au/facilities/new_macquarie_park_ramps_on_m2_motorway New Macquarie Park Ramps on M2 Motorway], ''Macquarie University Announcements''. Retrieved 15 June 2013.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120825163136/http://www.lanecoveroadramp.com.au/overview.php Lane Cove Road Ramp Overview], ''M2 Hills Motorway''. Retrieved 15 June 2013.</ref> During the upgrade, the fixed speed camera installed before the Epping/Norfolk Road tunnel was removed in mid-2013, and by November 2014 the speed limit was lifted to 100&nbsp;km/h limit along the length of the motorway.

With its opening, Metroad 2 between [[North Ryde, New South Wales|North Ryde]] and [[Baulkham Hills, New South Wales|Baulkham Hills]] was re-routed from arterial roads through Epping and Castle Hill to the motorway. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, Metroad 2 was replaced by route M2.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/using-roads/alpha-numeric/sydney-factsheet.pdf |title=Road number and name changes in Sydney |website=Roads and Maritime Services |publisher=Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime |date=2013 |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401053404/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/using-roads/alpha-numeric/sydney-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After initially refusing to include construction of east-facing ramps to Lane Cove Road as a part of the M2 Upgrade Project, Transurban and the NSW Government reached agreement to construct a new on-ramp in February 2013. The tolled ramp, which allows southbound traffic from Lane Cove Road to enter the motorway towards Sydney, eliminating the need to travel through the busy Macquarie Park area to enter the motorway through the Epping Road or Macquarie Park on-ramps, opened in July 2014.<ref>{{cite web | title = Lane Cove Road Ramp - completed | url = http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-north/hills-m2/lane-cove-road-ramp.html | website = NSW Roads and Maritime Services | access-date = 24 February 2017}}</ref> There was no provision for northbound traffic from Lane Cove Road to enter the motorway eastbound, nor for westbound motorway traffic to exit at Lane Cove Road.

On 20 March 2018, the [[Government of New South Wales]] and [[Transurban]] started testing [[autonomous car|driverless cars]] on M2 Hills Motorway. The launch coincided with the death of a pedestrian struck by a similarly human-supervised autonomous vehicle in [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLean |first1=Asha |title=NSW starts driverless car trial as Uber pauses |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/nsw-starts-driverless-car-trial-as-uber-pauses/ |website=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=23 July 2018 |language=en |date=21 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomsen |first1=Simon |title=NSW is now trialling automated vehicles on Sydney's motorways |url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/nsw-is-now-trialling-automated-vehicles-on-sydneys-motorways-2018-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321021607/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/nsw-is-now-trialling-automated-vehicles-on-sydneys-motorways-2018-3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2018 |website=Business Insider Australia |access-date=23 July 2018 |language=en |date=21 March 2018}}</ref>

===Connection to NorthConnex===
The [[NorthConnex]] tunnel opened on 31 October 2020, including motorway-to-motorway ramps to and from the M2 Hills Motorway west of [[Pennant Hills Road]]/[[Cumberland Highway]]; connecting between NorthConnex and the eastern portion of the motorway is via ramps from Pennant Hills Road.<ref>{{cite web | title = Southern Interchange | url = http://www.northconnex.com.au/southern_interchange.php | website = NorthConnex | access-date = 31 December 2015}}</ref>

==Tolls==
M2 Hills Motorway uses a cashless tolling system, where tolls are charged on the basis of vehicles being either Class A (which includes most private vehicles) or Class B (vehicles with two axles and are over 2.8 metres high, or vehicles with three axles which are over 2 metres high, or vehicles with more than three axles). Toll prices are updated four times a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.linkt.com.au/sydney/article/sydney/payments-tolls-and-fees/tolls-and-fees/toll-price-increases|title=When and how do toll prices increase|website=Linkt|access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref>

===Ownership===
At opening, the motorway was owned by the Hills Motorway Group, which was owned by [[Colonial First State]] (26.7%), [[Abigroup]] (8.1%), [[Obayashi Corporation]] (8.1%), [[Mercantile Mutual]], Portfolio Partners and [[AMP Limited]]. [[Macquarie Infrastructure Group]] (MIG) later purchased Obayashi's 8.1% share.<ref name=smh_2005>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/money/macquarie-hits-the-road-running-20050208-gdknct.html|title=Macquarie hits the road running|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 February 2005|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> In 2000, MIG planned to take over Hills Motorway Group but this did not eventuate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/macquarie-drive-to-build-2-5bn-road-giant-20000927-k9o94|title=Spat takes its toll on M2|publisher=Australian Financial Review|date=27 September 2000|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> In April 2004, Transurban acquired Abigroup's 8.1% stake of the motorway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/transurban-buys-8-1-percent-of-hills-motorway-20040420-gdirq4.html|title=Transurban buys 8.1% of Hills Motorway|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 April 2004|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> In February 2005, Transurban mounted a [[takeover bid]] of Hills Motorway for $1.8 billion.<ref name=smh_2005/> The takeover bid was successful and finalised in May 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mergr.com/transurban-group-acquires-hills-motorway-group|title=Transurban Group Acquires Hills Motorway Group|website=Mergr|access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref>

Separate to ownership, in January 2006, Transurban acquired Tollaust, which managed the tolls and operated and maintained the motorway.<ref name=casestudy/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/transurban-to-acquire-tollaust-20060104-gdmq67.html|title=Transurban to acquire Tollaust|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 January 2006|access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref> Tollaust was also owned by Abigroup. The acquisition was completed in February 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/public-registers/mergers-registers/public-informal-merger-reviews/transurban-group-acquisition-of-tollaust-pty-ltd|title=Transurban Group - acquisition of Tollaust Pty Ltd|website=ACCC|date=15 February 2006 |access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref>

The concessional tolling period ends in June 2048.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/inquiries/2428/Road%20Tolling%20in%20New%20South%20Wales%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf|title=Road tolling in New South Wales|publisher=Portfolio Committee No.2 – Health and Community Services|website=New South Wales Parliament|page=19|date=October 2017|access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> It was originally planned to end in 2042,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transurban.com/content/dam/investor-centre/04/2005_annual_report.pdf|title=Annual Report 2005|publisher=Transurban|page=13|date=2005|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> before it was extended to May 2046.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openbriefing.com.au/Briefing.aspx/PDF/923|title=Transurban 2013 Half Year Results|publisher=Transurban}}</ref>

{{hatnote|This table is an excerpt from [[:Toll roads in Australia|Toll roads in Australia]]}}
{{#section:Toll roads in Australia|header}}
{{#section:Toll roads in Australia|m2}}
{{#section:Toll roads in Australia|footer}}

==Interchanges==
{{AUSinttop|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps" />}}
{{NSWint
|type=toll
|LGA-S=The Hills
|LGAspan=2
|location_special={{NSWcity|Winston Hills}}–{{NSWcity|Baulkham Hills}} boundary
|lspan=2
|km=0.0
|uspan=2
|road={{AUshield|NSW|M7}} [[Westlink M7]] (northwest){{NSWcity|p=on|Lithgow}}, [[Canberra]], [[Melbourne]]
|notes=Western terminus of motorway, continues west as Westlink M7
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|km=none
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A2|NSW|A40}} [[Old Windsor Road]] (A2 north, A40 south){{NSWcity|p=on|Windsor|Parramatta}}<br />[[Prospect Highway|Abbott Road]] (west){{NSWcity|p=on|Seven Hills}}
|notes=Eastbound entrance and westbound exit only<br />Western terminus of route M2, continues north along Old Windsor Road as route A2
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[The Hills Shire|The Hills]]–[[City of Parramatta|Parramatta]] boundary
|location=Baulkham Hills
|km=3.3
|road=[[Windsor Road]]{{NSWcity|p=on|Parramatta|Baulkham Hills|Castle Hill}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[The Hills Shire|The Hills]]–[[City of Parramatta|Parramatta]]–[[Hornsby Shire|Hornsby]] tripoint
|LGAspan=2
|location_special={{NSWcity|West Pennant Hills}}–{{NSWcity|Carlingford}}–{{NSWcity|Beecroft}} [[tripoint]]
|lspan=2
|km=8.3
|uspan=2
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A28}} [[Pennant Hills Road]] ([[Cumberland Highway]], A28){{NSWcity|p=on|Wahroonga|Carlingford}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|type=toll
|km=none
|road={{AUshield|NSW|M11}} [[NorthConnex]] (M11){{NSWcity|p=on|Gosford|Newcastle}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and eastbound exit via Pennant Hills Road
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[City of Parramatta|Parramatta]]–[[Hornsby Shire|Hornsby]] boundary
|LGAspan=2
|location=Cheltenham
|type=incomplete
|km=11.7
|road=Beecroft Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Epping|Beecroft}}
|notes=Eastbound entrance and westbound exit 
}}
{{NSWint
|location_special={{NSWcity|Epping}}–{{NSWcity|North Epping}} boundary
|km=11.9
|km2=12.4
|tunnel=Epping / Norfolk Tunnel<ref name="linkt_m2">{{cite web|title=Hills M2|url=https://www.linkt.com.au/sydney/using-toll-roads/about-sydney-toll-roads/hills-m2|website=Linkt|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{NSWint
|LGAC=Ryde
|LGAspan=7
|location=Macquarie Park
|lspan=4
|type=toll
|km=14.6
|place=Toll point
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|km=15.4
|road={{AUshield|+|hospital}} Christie Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Macquarie Park}}, [[Macquarie University Hospital]]
|notes=Eastbound entrance and exit
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|km=15.7
|road={{AUshield|+|hospital}} Talavera Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Macquarie Park}}, [[Macquarie University Hospital]]
|notes=Westbound entrance and exit
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|km=17.0
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A3}} [[A3 (Sydney)|Lane Cove Road]] (A3){{NSWcity|p=on|Pymble|Ryde}}
|notes=No exit westbound; no eastbound entrance from A3 northbound
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|location_special={{NSWcity|Macquarie Park}}–{{NSWcity|North Ryde}} boundary
|km=18.4
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A38}} Delhi Road (A38){{NSWcity|p=on|Chatswood|Ryde}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and eastbound exit
}}
{{NSWint
|location=North Ryde
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|km=19.3
|uspan=2
|road=[[Epping Road]]{{NSWcity|p=on|Ryde|Epping}}
|notes=Westbound entrance from and eastbound exit to from Epping Road
}}
{{NSWint
|type=toll
|km=none
|road={{AUshield|NSW|M2|+|airport}} [[Lane Cove Tunnel]] (M2) – [[Sydney CBD]], [[Sydney Airport]]
|notes=Eastern terminus of motorway, route M2 continues east along Lane Cove Tunnel
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=incomplete,toll}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Australian Roads}}
* [[Freeways in Australia]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.linkt.com.au/sydney/using-toll-roads/about-sydney-toll-roads/hills-m2 Hills M2 Motorway]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160218085134/https://www.roamexpress.com.au/hills-m2.asp Hills M2 - Roam Express]
* [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficreports/northsydcameras/m2_ryde.html Web Cam (M2-Ryde)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061023173643/http://commcons.skm.com.au/f3tosydneyorbital/ F3 to Sydney Orbital route study]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070703200921/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectssydney/m2/index.html RTA Hills M2 Motorway]

{{Road infrastructure in Sydney}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hills_Motorway}}
[[Category:Highways in Sydney]]
[[Category:Toll roads in Australia]]
[[Category:The Hills Shire]]