It links the southern end of Bradfield Highway at the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Victoria Road in Rozelle, at its western terminus near White Bay.

In the citybound direction, traffic is collected from Victoria Road and the City West Link, as well as various on ramps in the Pyrmont and Ultimo areas.

With its completion in 2023, it will provide a freeway-standard route free of traffic lights from Sydney's CBD to its outer western suburbs and the Blue Mountains.

Western Distributor came to be out of the realisation in the early 1960s that the existing roads that supported the Harbour Bridge would not cope with contemporary and projected traffic volumes.

Under the Western Distributor viaduct ramps at its northern end, between Sussex and Kent streets, there is an abandoned carriageway underneath the main roadway.

It is a short section of elevated freeway; the top tier remains in constant use but the lower is suspended in the air; having been severed at each end.