One of the Hunter region's biggest ever infrastructure projects is a step closer to construction with the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace given the official green light by the Australian and New South Wales Governments.
The Australian Government has approved the project under national environment law, meaning works can begin.
The $2.1 billion project is jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $1.68 billion, and the NSW Government investing $420 million.
The project will deliver a 15-kilometre extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway from Black Hill to Raymond Terrace, including a 2.6-kilometre-long bridge over the New England Highway and Hunter River.
The surrounding network will also be upgraded, including the Hexham Straight Widening of around six kilometres of the Pacific Highway/Maitland Road to three lanes in each direction between the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at Sandgate and the New England Highway at Hexham Bridge.
Once complete, the extension will create more efficient and reliable journeys by bypassing five sets of traffic lights, and removing about 25,000 vehicles a day from key congestion and merge points between Newcastle and Maitland.
The Australian and NSW Governments have announced the John Holland Gamuda Australia Joint Venture as the contractors for the southern section of the project, covering a 10-kilometre section extending from Black Hill to Tomago.
Seymour Whyte Constructions will deliver the northern contract, completing the five-kilometre section that will bypass Heatherbrae.
The project is expected to be open to traffic in mid-2028, weather permitting.
