Lasting Legacy: A new era for the Hunter as M1 extension opens

After more than four million hours of construction, the Hunter’s largest road infrastructure project 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 opening of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension marks a major milestone for the Hunter, closing a missing link in the Sydney to Brisbane economic corridor and strengthening one of Australia’s most important freight routes.

The M1 Pacific Motorway 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.

It builds on Labor’s long record of investment in transforming the Pacific Highway.

Between 2007 and 2013, the former Federal Labor Government committed more than $8.7 billion to complete the duplication of the Pacific Highway and deliver bypasses of towns across New South Wales.

Since coming to government in 2022, the Albanese Government has committed a further $266.4 million to finish the remaining upgrades along the corridor, in addition to its investment in the M1 extension.

The new motorway will provide a direct connection between the M1 at Black Hill and Raymond Terrace, improving connections to jobs, businesses, communities and major regional infrastructure, including Newcastle Airport and the Port of Newcastle.

For motorists, it means cutting travel times by seven to nine minutes during peak hours and removing up to 25,000 vehicles a day from local streets.

For freight, it means a faster and more reliable connection through the Hunter and along the Sydney to Brisbane corridor.

The project has also been a major investment in local jobs and skills, with 70 per cent of the workforce drawn from the Hunter region and 99 apprentices and trainees gaining experience on the project.

More than 2,700 workers have helped deliver the extension, clocking up more than four million hours of work to get the motorway open around 18 months earlier than originally planned.

Construction of the motorway has been delivered on a remarkable scale, including: 

After years of planning and construction, the M1 extension is now ready to become part of everyday life across the Hunter – delivering a new connection that will transform the movement of people and freight and support the region’s next era of growth.

For more information about the M1 Pacific Motorway extension visit: https://caportal.com.au/tfnsw/m1rt.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“Labor has a proud record of investing in the Pacific Highway and delivering the infrastructure regional communities need.

“My Government is delivering a faster, safer connection through the Hunter and invested almost $1.8 billion in this project.

“It means 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.

“This is what investing in infrastructure is all about. We’re cutting travel times, getting trucks and freight moving and building for the future.”

Quotes attributable to Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns:

“This is a big day for the Hunter. After years of construction, 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.

“This project has been a mammoth undertaking, and I want to acknowledge the hundreds of local workers who have helped deliver this important connection for the Hunter.

“This is about more than infrastructure. It’s about backing the Hunter and ensuring this great part of our state remains open for business.”    

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King:

“The days of holiday traffic crawling through the Hunter are over, with our new bypass of Hexham and Heatherbrae now delivered.

“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 underway in 2023.

“I want to thank the 2,700 workers who delivered this project.

“We planned to open this project in 2028, they got it done one and a half years early.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison:

“On 11 September 2026, communities in the Hunter will wake up to a brand new 15km M1 motorway.

“A project built by the very people it will serve, with 70 per cent of the workforce coming from right here in the region.

“Almost 950,000 people are expected to call the Hunter home by 2041 and our roads have a vital role to play in how the region functions.

“The M1 extension reflects the needs of a region that is working harder, building faster and more ambitious than ever. A road that will support families, workers, local businesses and our industries.

“I am incredibly proud to see this mammoth investment into the Hunter be days from opening.

“This is Labor delivering for the Hunter.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson:

“Today is a really proud day for our community. People in Paterson knew this road was needed, but it was always the next promise, never the next project. When we came to Government in 2022, we turned years of talk into action.

"Not only are we delivering the M1 Extension to Raymond Terrace, we're opening it more than a year ahead of schedule - funded, fast-tracked and delivered. That's what happens when governments work together, back our region and get on with the job.

"This project belongs to the thousands of local workers who helped make it happen. From the engineers and planners to the crews on the ground, thank you. As I always say, Hunter workers work harder, and this road is proof of that.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon:

“This completed link secures Newcastle as the economic centre of the Hunter by keeping freight as well as general traffic moving safer and smoother in all directions for years to come.

“After providing a massive boost to local jobs with more than four million hours of construction, the finished motorway now becomes a permanent and reliable pathway for industrial growth across the Hunter.”

Quotes attributable to State Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington:

“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.

“Many locals travel on this stretch daily, so it’s going to make a massive difference to their lives – getting where we need to go smarter, faster and safer.”

Quotes attributable to State Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery:

“This is a huge day for the Wallsend electorate and our surrounding suburbs.

“After years of waiting, we finally get a motorway that takes pressure off our local streets and gives our community room to breathe.

“I can't wait to see the difference this makes - not just for the daily commute, but for local businesses, for families heading off on a weekend away, and for a community that has waited a long time for this moment.”

Quotes attributable to State Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp:

“Newcastle's future runs through this motorway.

“Quicker, more reliable access to the Port and the Airport means our exporters and industries can compete on time, not just on price.

“Along with the newly completed Hexham Straight Widening project, this will improve travel times for all Newcastle and Hunter commuters.

“This is the kind of infrastructure that keeps Newcastle’s economy growing for decades to come.”

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