Newy 87.8 FM – The M1 Pacific Motorway extension will open to traffic in the early hours of 11 September, delivering a new 15-kilometre motorway connection between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace.
The Hunter's largest road infrastructure project closes a missing link in the Sydney to Brisbane corridor and includes a bypass of Hexham and Heatherbrae.
The M1 extension and Hexham Straight widening projects were jointly funded with a total investment of $2.24 billion – $1.79 billion from the Albanese Government and $448 million from the Minns Government.
Motorists are expected to save seven to nine minutes during peak hours, with up to 25,000 vehicles a day removed from local streets. The motorway will also improve connections to Newcastle Airport and the Port of Newcastle.
More than 2,700 workers helped deliver the extension, clocking up more than four million hours of work to open the motorway around 18 months earlier than originally planned. Seventy per cent of the workforce was drawn from the Hunter region, with 99 apprentices and trainees gaining experience on the project.
Construction included 11 bridges, more than 1.6 million cubic metres of earth moved and more than 520 kilometres of drainage and wick drains installed.
Premier Chris Minns said the opening was "a big day for the Hunter", adding people "will feel the difference from day one".
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said almost 950,000 people are expected to call the Hunter home by 2041.
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