BY OLIVIA GOELDNER
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in the Hunter this morning, looking over the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.
The $2.1 billion dollar project, is slated to be finished in 2028 and will see a 15 kilometer extension made to the Motorway.
The extension is expected to cut down on nine minutes of travel time during peak periods, with the removal of 25,000 vehicles from key congestion and merge points between Newcastle and Maitland each day.
Prime Minister Albanese praised the extension for expected improvements in road safety, and what this will mean for families and workers travelling up and down the east coast.
"When we build better roads, we get better outcomes for road safety. Better outcomes means saving lives and reducing accidents which we have seen unfortunately rise around the nation."
Additionally, Prime Minister Albanese said the reduced travel time will increase productivity throughout the Hunter region.
"The Port of Newcastle is one of Australia's most important, and this project will ensure there's massive productivity benefits for all in the region."
