View source for Southern Cross Drive

{{Short description|Road in Sydney, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{for|the road in Brisbane|Gateway Motorway#Southern Cross Way}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| type         = motorway
| state        = nsw
| road_name    = Southern Cross Drive
| image        = Southern Cross Drive.jpg
| caption      = Aerial view of Southern Cross Drive in 2012, with Botany Lakes and Mill Steam astride the road
| length       = 4.9
| length_ref   = <ref name="gmaps">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-33.9104629,151.2130854/-33.9416981,151.1927144/@-33.9259017,151.1949894,14.84z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |title=Southern Cross Drive |access-date=12 July 2023 }}</ref>
| gazetted     = January 1993
| gazetted_ref = <ref name="nswgovgaz93">{{cite news |title=State Roads Act |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231922836 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=22 January 1993 |pages=223–30 |access-date=11 July 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327163315/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231922836 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| route        = {{AUshield|NSW|M1}} M1 {{small|(2013–present)}}
| former       = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|Met|1}} Metroad 1 {{small|(1993–2013)}}
*{{AUshield|NR|1}} National Route 1 {{small|(1992–1993)}}
*{{AUshield|S|64}} State Route 64 {{small|(1974–1992)}}
}}
| mapframe     = no
| alternative_location_map = Australia Sydney
| coordinates_a = {{coord|-33.909925|151.213054|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| coordinates_b = {{coord|-33.941048|151.192669|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| pushpin_label_position_a = top
| pushpin_label_position_b = bottom
| direction_a  = North
| direction_b  = South
| end_a = {{AUshield|NSW|M1}} '''South Dowling Street'''<br />{{small|[[Kensington, New South Wales|Kensington, Sydney]]}}
| end_b  = {{AUshield|NSW|M1}} '''[[General Holmes Drive]]'''<br />{{small|[[Mascot, New South Wales|Mascot, Sydney]]}}
| exits        = {{plainlist|
*Wentworth Avenue
*Mill Pond Road}}
| through      = {{NSWcity|Eastlakes|Pagewood|Rosebery}}
}}

'''Southern Cross Drive''' is a {{convert|4.8|km|adj=on|0|abbr=on}} [[dual carriageway|dual carriage]] [[Road pricing#Australia|untolled]] [[Freeway|motorway]] in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. Part of the [[M1 (New South Wales)|M1]] and [[Sydney Orbital Network]], the road, a [[freeway]] that opened in 1969, links South Dowling Street (and [[Eastern Distributor]] just beyond) at [[Kensington, New South Wales|Kensington]] in the north to [[General Holmes Drive]] at [[Sydney Airport]] in the south.

==Route==
Southern Cross Drive commences at the interchange with South Dowling Street (and the southern end of [[Eastern Distributor]], around 500m beyond) and Link Road and heads south as a 6-lane, dual-carriageway road, tracing past the western border of [[The Australian Golf Club]] in [[Kensington, New South Wales|Kensington]] and through [[The Lakes Golf Club]] in [[Eastlakes, New South Wales|Eastlakes]], before turning westwards over Wentworth Avenue towards the eastern boundary of [[Sydney Airport]], where it turns south again to eventually merge with [[General Holmes Drive]].

With the development of many other motorways and freeways, Southern Cross Drive is part of the {{convert|110|km|adj=on}} [[Sydney Orbital Network]], providing links without interruption between [[Greater Western Sydney]], [[Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)|Eastern Suburbs]], the [[North Shore (Sydney)|North Shore]] and [[Hills District, New South Wales|Hills District]]. It allows a continuous link from [[M5 South Western Motorway|M5 Motorway]], General Holmes Drive, [[Westlink M7]], [[Eastern Distributor]], [[Cahill Expressway]], [[Sydney Harbour Tunnel]], [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]], [[Warringah Freeway]], [[Gore Hill Freeway]], [[Lane Cove Tunnel]] and [[M2 Hills Motorway]].

In August 2013, the Southern Cross Drive carried about 20,000 vehicles per day, both north and southbound.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/sydney-south/sydney-airport/airport-east-addendum-ref-2016-04.pdf |title=Airport East Precinct: Addendum review of environmental factors |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |date=April 2016 |access-date=8 October 2016 |page=30 }}</ref>

South of Wentworth Avenue and north of Botany Road, Southern Cross Drive is elevated above the [[Port Botany railway line]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/sydney-south/sydney-airport/westconnex-enabling-works-ref-appendix-j.pdf |title=Appendix J: Review of Environmental Factors |work=WestConnex Enabling Works – Airport east precinct: Review of Environmental Factors |publisher=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |date=June 2014 |access-date=8 October 2016 |author=SMEC Holdings |author-link=SMEC Holdings |page=20 }}</ref>

==History==
Southern Cross Drive was originally built to provide access to the [[Sydney central business district]] for suburbs in [[Southern Sydney]] and South Eastern Sydney, and originally terminated at Wentworth Avenue at {{NSWcity|Pagewood}}. The Gardeners Road bridge was completed in 1969, elevated above Southern Cross Drive at Eastlakes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/history-12-late20th.html |title=Metroads: Steel bridges |work=The History of Sydney: Late 20th Century: 1946 - 2000 |publisher=Visit Sydney Australia |date=2015 |access-date=8 October 2016 }}</ref>

A road project to extend Southern Cross Drive further south-west as an elevated roadway over Wentworth Avenue, Botany and Mill Pond Roads – and over reclaimed swampland including Mill Pond, Mill Steam, and Botany Dams, much of which has been reclaimed for [[golf course]]s (including the Eastlakes Golf Club, [[The Lakes Golf Club]] and [[Bonnie Doon Golf Club]]) – to connect directly to General Holmes Drive on the eastern border of [[Sydney Airport]], opened in February 1988.

The passing of the ''Main Roads Act of 1924''<ref>[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ State of New South Wales, ''An Act to provide for the better construction, maintenance, and financing of main roads; to provide for developmental roads; to constitute a Main Roads Board''] {{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> through the [[Parliament of New South Wales]] provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the [[Main Roads Board]] (MRB). With the subsequent passing of the ''Main Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 State of New South Wales, ''An Act to amend the Main Roads Act, 1924-1927; to confer certain further powers upon the MRB; to amend the Local Government Act, 1919, and certain other Acts; to validate certain payments and other matters; and for purposes connected therewith.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812065622/https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 |date=12 August 2022 }} 8 April 1929</ref> to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, the [[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)|Department of Main Roads]] (having succeeded the MRB in 1932) extended the southern end of Main Road 593 from its old terminus on South Dowling Street at the intersection with O'Dea and Todman Avenues further along South Dowling Street and along the entire length of Southern Cross Drive on 22 January 1993.<ref name="nswgovgaz93" /> Despite its role as a grade-separated expressway, the road is not officially gazetted as one by [[Transport for NSW]] classification, and is still considered today to be a main road.<ref name="nswroadsched" />

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, Southern Cross Drive retains its declaration as part of Main Road 593.<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>

The route was allocated State Route 64 in 1974; when the Southern Cross Drive extension opened in 1988, it was extended along with it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/Deccomissioned%20Routes/SR64/sr64.htm |work=OzRoads: The Australian Roads |title=NSW State Route 64: Deccommissioned |access-date=8 October 2016 }}{{Self-published source|date=July 2023}}</ref> It was replaced by National Route 1 when the [[Sydney Harbour Tunnel]] opened in 1992, then by Metroad 1 in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/Metroads/1/old.htm |work=OzRoads: The Australian Roads |title=NSW Metroad 1: Former Alignment: Southern Cross Drive to Cahill Expressway |access-date=8 October 2016 }}{{Self-published source|date=July 2023}}</ref> With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, Metroad 1 was replaced by route M1.<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>

There were plans to construct south-facing ramps from Gardeners Road to Southern Cross Drive, proposed in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectssydney/gardeners/index.html |title=Southern Cross Drive and Gardeners Road, Eastlakes |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609041333/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectssydney/gardeners/index.html |archive-date=9 June 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/about/corporatepublications/rta-annual-report-2006-appendices.pdf |title=RTA Annual Report 2006 Appendices |work=[[Roads & Traffic Authority]] |date=30 June 2006 |access-date=8 October 2016 |page=151 }}</ref>

==Exits and interchanges==
{{AUSinttop|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps" />}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[City of Sydney|Sydney]]–[[City of Randwick|Randwick]] boundary
|LGAspan=2
|location_special={{NSWcity|Zetland}}–{{NSWcity|Kensington}} boundary
|lspan=2
|type=trans
|km=0.0
|uspan=2
|road={{AUshield|NSW|M1}} South Dowling Street (M1){{NSWcity|p=on|Surry Hills|Darlinghurst|Paddington}}<br />to {{AUshield|NSW|M1}} [[Eastern Distributor]] (M1){{NSWcity|p=on|Woolloomooloo}}, [[Sydney CBD]], {{NSWcity|North Sydney}}
|notes=Northern terminus of road, route M1 continues north along South Dowling Street
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|km=none
|road=Link Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Rosebery}}
|notes=Northbound entrance and exit only
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|LGA-Co=Bayside
|LGAspan=4
|location_special={{NSWcity|Eastlakes}}–{{NSWcity|Mascot}}–{{NSWcity|Pagewood}} tripoint
|km=3.2
|road=Wentworth Avenue{{NSWcity|p=on|Maroubra|Mascot}}
|notes=Northbound entrance and southbound exit only
}}
{{NSWint
|location_special={{NSWcity|Mascot}}–{{NSWcity|Pagewood}}–{{NSWcity|Botany}} tripoint
|km=4.4
|bridge=''[[Southern Sydney Freight Line]]''
}}
{{NSWint
|type=incomplete
|location=Mascot
|km=4.5
|road={{AUshield|+|airport}} Mill Pond Road, to [[General Holmes Drive]] (north){{NSWcity|p=on|Port Botany|La Perouse}}, [[Sydney Airport]]<br />Botany Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Botany|Mascot|Arncliffe}}
|notes=Northbound entrance and southbound exit only
}}
{{NSWint
|location_special={{NSWcity|Botany}}–{{NSWcity|Mascot}} boundary
|km=4.9
|type=trans
|road={{AUshield|NSW|M1}} [[General Holmes Drive]] (M1 south){{NSWcity|p=on|Blakehurst|Heathcote|Wollongong}}
|notes=Southern terminus of road, route M1 continues southeast along General Holmes Drive
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete,trans}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SouthernCrossDrive.jpg|Southern Cross Drive, southerly direction, at the Link Road entrance. Also visible are lane markings notifying motorists of the approaching entrance to [[Eastern Distributor]]
Southern Cross Drive crossing Wentworth Avenue by Pengo.jpg|Crossing over Wentworth Avenue with surrounding golf courses.
</gallery>

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Australian roads}}}}
* [[Freeways in Sydney]]
* [[Southern Cross (aircraft)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Road infrastructure in Sydney}}
{{Streets of Sydney Australia}}

[[Category:Streets in Sydney]]
[[Category:Highway 1 (Australia)]]