Newy 87.8 FM – The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace, the Hunter's largest infrastructure project, is due to open in late 2026, more than a year ahead of its original 2028 completion date.
The 15-kilometre extension will provide dual carriageway motorway with two lanes in each direction and four new interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace. It includes a 2.6-kilometre viaduct over the Hunter River, its floodplain and the Main North Rail Line.
Transport for NSW says the project will remove up to 25,000 vehicles a day from local roads, including through Hexham and Heatherbrae, save up to nine minutes in peak periods and remove five sets of traffic lights.
The northern section, the five-kilometre Heatherbrae Bypass, is complete, including the Raymond Terrace interchange, Masonite Road overpass and Windeyers Creek bridge. It will open once the 10-kilometre southern section between Black Hill and Tomago is finished later this year.
Major construction began in 2023, with several bridges and interchanges already open and work continuing on pavement, bridge, drainage and finishing works.
Combined funding for the M1 extension and Hexham Straight widening is $2.24 billion, with $1.792 billion from the federal government and $448 million from NSW.
The six-kilometre Hexham Straight widening opened to traffic in early 2026, with three lanes each way operating at 80km/h from February.
Join the discussion on Facebook.
