New motorway extension to ease traffic away from Port Stephens

AFTER more than two years of construction, $2.24 billion in funding and 1.6 million cubic meters of earth removed, the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace has finally been opened more than a year ahead of schedule.

Last month, locals got to walk on foot on a section of the newly completed road, but the time of its opening was still uncertain.

After the official ribbon cutting on 9 September, traffic began rolling in the northbound lanes in the morning of Thursday 10 September, with the entire extension fully accessible by drivers on Friday 11 September.

The new roadway includes 15 kilometres of dual carriageway in each direction, accessible from new interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace, and will remove up to 25,000 vehicles per day from existing roads.

Motorists can expect to save around 10 minutes of travel time during peak periods, bypassing five traffic lights and the Hexham bottleneck, just in time to avoid Christmas traffic.

“The Port Stephens community will benefit significantly from the opening of the M1, particularly during peak travel times and holiday periods when increased traffic places additional pressures on local roads,” Deputy Mayor Chris Doohan said.

“The new motorway will ease congestion, reduce travel times for residents and freight, and divert heavy traffic away from the Raymond Terrace town centre.

“It will also improve access to the Tomago industrial precinct and Newcastle Airport, while supporting continued economic growth and investment across Port Stephens.”

The project will be essential to sustain the population of the Hunter Region, expected to reach 950,000 people in 2041, according to NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison.

With the opening next year of the Coffs Harbour bypass, motorists will be able to travel from Melbourne all the way to Coffs Harbour without hitting a single traffic light or roundabout.

By Nico LOMBARDO