M1 Pacific Motorway extension to open in Hunter region

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension in Australia’s Hunter region is scheduled to open to traffic on Friday, September 11, approximately 18 months ahead of schedule. The $2.24 billion project provides a new 15-kilometre connection between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace, effectively closing a major missing link in the Sydney-to-Brisbane economic corridor.

The upgrade is designed to alleviate long-standing traffic bottlenecks, specifically the Hexham-Heatherbrae area. For daily commuters, the extension is expected to reduce peak-hour travel times by seven to nine minutes. Additionally, the project aims to remove up to 25,000 vehicles per day from local streets in Hexham, Heatherbrae, Tarro, and Thornton.

Jointly funded by the federal and state governments, the infrastructure project is intended to strengthen the east coast supply chain by providing faster and more reliable connections for freight operators. The extension also improves access to regional hubs, including the Port of Newcastle and Newcastle Airport.