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

M1 Motorway Extension To Raymond Terrace Takes Another Step Forward

BY IAN CROUCH

The M1 Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace has taken another step towards fruition with the state government calling for expressions of interest from pre-qualified contractors to build the 2-billion dollar road.

It follows the release of an environmental impact statement in July for the long-awaited 15 kilometre project.

Business Hunter CEO, Bob Hawes has welcomed the announcement, saying they want to capitalise on the whole-of-project economic pipeline.

"Like all major capital projects of this scale, it's the pipeline of subcontract work that the project will open up that is the real opportunity for our local businesses who will have the advantage of proximity to the massive project," he said.

The government is expected to call for tenders in January next year, with construction work likely to start in 2023.

M1 Pacific Motorway Extension Overview
 Picture: Caportal.com.au