The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace has reached a significant milestone with the successful lifting of the first girders at the northern interchange on the Heatherbrae Bypass.
Motorists will see the interchange come to life after the lifting of eight bridge girders onto the northern interchange on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 October.
The overbridge at the northern interchange will serve as the main direct access off the M1 Pacific Motorway, to the Pacific Highway and the townships of Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace.
When completed, the interchange will provide southbound motorists the option to continue into Heatherbrae using the local road network or take the new motorway across Windeyers Creek bypassing Heatherbrae.
The work to build the overbridge includes geotechnical investigations, relocation of utilities, drainage, earthworks, bridge substructure and superstructure, and pavement works.
The team has already lifted 62 of the 827 bridge girders into place across the project, with more than 70 per cent of the Heatherbrae Bypass workforce sourced from the Hunter Region, including 38 apprentices and 12 trainees.
The extension is expected to be open to traffic in mid-2028.
For more information and to sign up for regular updates on the progress of the M1 extension visit nswroads.work/m12rtportal.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“This is an exciting step forward for the M1 Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace project.
“Once complete, this project, together with the Coffs Harbour bypass, will provide the remaining major upgrades to complete a free-flowing route between Sydney and Brisbane with no traffic lights.
“The Australian and NSW Governments are proud to be working together to deliver the ‘missing link’ and strengthening our road network across the nation.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:
“This is great news for the 48,000 motorists from across NSW who travel on the notorious bottleneck on the Pacific Highway at Hexham.
“Combined with the Hexham Straight Widening project, this will significantly improve journeys for local motorists, visitors and the freight industry.
“The Australian and NSW Governments are delivering legacy infrastructure which will cater to the needs of our great state in the decades ahead.”
Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson:
“This is a vital missing link that I have pushed the Federal Government to support since 2016 and has been accelerated under the Albanese and Minns Governments.
“The M1 extension to Raymond Terrace will transform travel in this region by removing up to 25,000 vehicles a day away from key congestion areas, saving motorists around nine minutes off their trip.”
NSW Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington:
“It’s great to see the progress being made on the M1 Pacific Highway extension to Raymond Terrace.
“Once completed, this project will be a huge time saver for locals and visitors traveling in and around Port Stephens.
“The Heatherbrae Bypass will reduce traffic on our local roads, making them safer for everyone.”