M1 Motorway Extension A Year Ahead Of Schedule

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Progress on the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace is expect to be open later this year, more than a year ahead of schedule. 

The accelerated timeline comes following the completion of the new five kilometre motorway forming the Heatherbrae Bypass. 

As part of the northern section, the Raymond Terrace interchange, the Masonite Road overpass and a major bridge crossing at Windeyers Creek have also been completed.

The M1 extension will be open as soon as work on the 10-kilometre southern section from Black Hill to Tomago is complete, later this year. 

Roads Minister and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said it's a major step forward. 

"It's been a massive effort to get this essentially more than a year ahead of schedule," she said. 

"This project has created so many jobs in our region, with 2,700 people having worked on this project.

"It's something that generations of people across the Hunter can be very proud of the work that is here." 

Following opening, contractors will remain on site to monitor how the new road adjusts to carrying highway traffic, undertake landscaping establishment and targeted maintenance as required.

The monitoring will be carried out for up to two years on the southern section and one year on the northern section. 

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said it marks a big day for the Hunter. 

"The school holiday traffic we're seeing on the existing highway right now is a great reminder as to why this project is vital," she said. 

"Nearly 25,000 vehicles use this road on a normal day, with that number swelling during the holiday breaks."

Picture: Ian Crouch

Work Underway to Widen the Hexham Straight and Extend the M1 Pacific Highway to Raymond Terrace

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The Federal Transport Minister joined a number of Hunter MPs in the region on Tuesday the 26th of July to announce work to widen the Hexham Straight is now underway. 

The project will see the dual carriageway along the the Pacific Highway between the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge widened from two lanes to three in each direction. 

It will also involve the demolition of Ironbark Bridge to make way for two new bridges at Ironbark Creek. 

Catherine King said the move will reduce traffic here in the Hunter, and allow motorists to travel from Sydney to Brisbane without encountering any traffic lights. 

NSW Roads Minister John Graham also attended the announcement and says he expects thousands of jobs will be delivered for the Hunter over the course of the Hexham project, and the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway out to Raymond Terrace. 

He said the upgrade will deliver more reliable travel times for freight vehicles and commuters alike. 

"This is a notorious bottleneck; motorists have queued here over generations as the Pacific Highway has become smoother and smoother, but the run has often ended here in congestion. That will cease when these works are delivered." 

"It's great news for motorists right across NSW." 

The Hexham upgrade is expected to be completed by 2026, and the M1 extension should be finished by 2028.

( From Left to Right:) Kate Washington, John Graham, Dan Repacholi, Catherine King and Tim Crakanthorp

Contractors shortlisted for M1 extension project

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The M1 extension to Raymond Terrace is a step closer to reality, with a shortlist of companies invited to tender announced today.

CPB Contractors, Acciona Infrastructure Australia, and the John Holland and Gamuda (Australia) Branch Joint Venture will take part in the tender process for the 10 kilometre Black Hill to Tomago section.

Seymour Whyte Constructions and BMD Constructions are in the running for the five kilometre Heatherbrae bypass section. 

The contracts are expected to be awarded by the end of the year, with work set to start mid-2023.

Registrations of interest have also been opened to contractors to widen the Hexham Straight.

Major Hunter Project Wins Funding In Federal Budget

BY IAN CROUCH

A long-awaited infrastructure project in the Hunter has been the big winner out of last night's federal budget.

$1.6 billion dollars has been allocated to the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.

It's 80 percent of the cost, with the state government to be asked to contribute the rest.

However there's no clear timeline on when construction will start.

Elsewhere, $20 million dollars is going towards road projects on the Buckets Way, another $20 million for Clarence Town Road and $140 million for the Tenterfield to Newcastle corridor.

$4.7 million over 5 years was confirmed for The University of Newcastle to fund research into PFAS chemicals.

Federal Labor MPs in the Hunter have slammed the budget, saying the government's main budget priority is getting re-elected.

Tax cuts of $1080 dollars a year for more than 10 million taxpayers earning up to $126,000 was the big sweetener, along with a predicted surplus of $7.1 million.

However, there was no money for the Glendale Transport Interchange or the Singleton Bypass.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivering the 2019 Federal Budget