The Hunter’s new M1 Pacific Motorway extension is to open to traffic early this Friday morning 18 months early.
The 15-kilometre extension linking Black Hill and Raymond Terrace (and the Hexham Straight widening project) cost $2.24 billion with $1.79bn of that provided by Canberra.
The federal government says the new motorway will boost connections between work, businesses and homes with major infrastructure like the airport and port.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that “motorists will be able to travel from Melbourne all the way to Coffs Harbour without hitting a single traffic light or roundabout (and we’re getting on with finishing the Coffs Harbour Bypass too).
“We’re cutting travel times, getting trucks and freight moving and building for the future,” he says.
NSW Premier Chris Minns calls the opening “a big day for the Hunter”.
“This road is opening and people will feel the difference from day one. It means shorter trips, less traffic on local roads and a much better connection between Newcastle, the Hunter and the rest of the state.”
BENEFITS OF NEW M1 PACIFIC MOTORWAY LINK
- Driving times will be cut by seven to nine minutes during peak hours.
- It will remove up to 25,000 vehicles a day from local streets.
- Road freight will get a faster, more reliable passage through the Hunter along the Sydney to Brisbane corridor.
- 70% of the 2700-strong workforce was drawn from the Hunter region. Source: Federal Government
HUNTER’S DAYS OF HOLIDAY CRAWLING ‘ARE OVER’
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King says “the days of holiday traffic crawling through the Hunter are over”.
“We committed to delivering this project back in 2019, we pushed the government of the day to get on with planning and we got work under way in 2023,” she says.
“We planned to open this project in 2028, they got it done one and a half years early.”
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says: “Almost 950,000 people are expected to call the Hunter home by 2041 and our roads have a vital role to play.”
Federal MP for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon says the new link “secures Newcastle as the economic centre of the Hunter”.
NSW MP for Port Stephens Kate Washington says: “Woohoo! The Hexham bottleneck is gone for good!
“This is a great day for the people of Port Stephens, who have been looking forward to this day for decades.”
NSW MP for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery says it will be “a huge day” for her electorate.
“After years of waiting, we finally get a motorway that takes pressure off our local streets and gives our community room to breathe.”
State MP for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp says the city’s future will run through the new motorway.
“Quicker, more reliable access to the port and airport means our exporters and industries can compete on time, not just on price,” he says.
For more details about the M1 Pacific Motorway extension visit, www.caportal.com.au/tfnsw/m1rt.
