"When I first came to Sydney seven years ago there was a toll road there,bit of a motorway there,there wasn’t any connection:now we’re building it,"he said.

"It’s another piece in the jigsaw of a complete network."

No toll-free period will be included on the new road,or the existing M5,with Mr Graham calling on the state government to re-think the decision.

"We’re asking for a last-minute reprieve for drivers on this road,up and down some of the hardest hit suburbs in this recession...for a toll-free period. It’s the least this government could do,"he said.

"It’s not just fairer,its also safer,we’re worried that drivers might make last-minute lane changes as they seek to avoid these tolls."

WestConnex chief executive Andrew Head said building big infrastructure was never"smooth sailing,"but the last six months of the M8 construction had run exceptionally well.

Close to eight million tonnes of spoil was excavated at the former Alexandra landfill site,with another 723,000 cubic metres of concrete used to construct the dual two-lane tunnels.

Mr Head said attention would soon turn to stage three of the $16 billion WestConnex motorway,linking St Peters to the M4 tunnels at Haberfield.

"It’s very similar to raising a family and you’ve got children at different ages,they all come with different challenges and requirements,it’s the same thing here,"he said.

The M8 is the first of two new toll roads expected to open in Sydney this quarter,with the $3 billion NorthConnex slated to open within the next few months.