The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace in New South Wales is one step closer to completion, following the successful lifting of the first girders at the northern interchange on the Heatherbrae Bypass.
The lifting of eight bridge girders onto the northern interchange took place on the 24th and 25th of 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 upgrade includes 15 kilometres of dual carriageway motorway with two lanes in each direction bypassing Hexham and Heatherbrae, interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago, and Raymond Terrace and a 2.6 kilometre bridge over Woodlands Close, the Main Northern Railway, New England Highway and Hunter River.
Related stories:
- Funding boost for NSW’s M1 Pacific Motorway Extension
- Registrations of interest called for M1 Pacific Motorway extension contract
- Drilling begins on M1 extension
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.
Jenny Aitchison, NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said this is great news for the 48,000 motorists from across New South Wales 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,” she said.
“The Federal and New South Wales governments are delivering legacy infrastructure which will cater to the needs of our great state in the decades ahead.”
The $2.1 billion project is being jointly funded by the Australian and the NSW governments, with the NSW Government committing the remaining $420 million.
For more information, nswroads.work/m12rtportal.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
