Random Ramblings - Westlink M7
I'm working from 9pm till midnight tonight, and my mum has gone out, so meanwhile... Hrm.
I'm bored, so on with the LJ entries...
Westlink M7
So the M7 opened recently, and they've got a free month before the tolls start. I've been using it *heaps*, and I don't know what i'll do once they start charging! Well, i've ordered a eTag, and they've got an additional deal of $50 free credit, so I can use that for a bit. Hopefully by the time all the free stuff is over, we won't be living here anymore. I gues that's my plan to escape paying.
So meanwhile, we've used it:
- To cabramatta, reducing the trip to around 30 mins. (Using Woodstock Ave. to Elizabeth Drive)
- To kellyvile and back, mostly for the fun of using the new road, beause it doesn't really save much time. (Using Power St to Norwest Bvd)
- To work, either using it going south from here to the M4, which is a short stretch, skipping about 3 traffic lights (Using Woodstock Ave to the Lighthorse Interchange)
- Or to work or going north from here, and via the M2. Using Richmond Road to the end of the motorway, joining the M2, and then paying the toll on that ($3.80) to get me to Maq centre. I love this trip, because it takes just 30 mins(25 if speeding) to get to work, whereas it can otherwise take up to 50-60mins, or more during peak hour. But it means paying the M2 toll, and it's not cheap. I travelled this route for fun once or twice, and it's cool how you see interesection after intersection fly by, and you don't realise how close they are, because the usual route isn't straight. such as between norwest and sunnyholt road. or richmond road and sunnyholt road. or the whole stretch between the start of the M2, through Winston Hills, Baulkham Hills and Carlingford.
Anyway, due to the cost, I figure I shouldn't do this route normally, *but* since our sign on clock works in 15min increments, if taking the motorway means an extra increment, that's an extra $4.20+ i get paid... which covers the toll and means I'm not late... The trick is not to be lazy and be late because I know I can still get there on time. But yeah, going to work via the M7 and M2 means motorway virtually door-to-door, so cool!