28 July 2015

Planning is progressing on the M1 Pacific Motorway upgrade between the Kariong and Somersby, with the detailed design contract awarded to Hyder Consulting Pty Ltd today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the contract had been awarded following environmental approval of the project.

“The Kariong to Somersby project is one of four projects in the almost $400 million M1 Productivity Package, which will reduce travel times between Newcastle and Sydney, improve road freight efficiency and provide for the expected growth of commuter and freight traffic,” Mr Truss said.

New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay said the upgrade was expected to be completed in 2019.

“These works will provide more reliable travel times and safer journeys for all road users along the motorway and Roads and Maritime Services will continue to work with the community throughout the detailed design process,” Mr Gay said.

Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said the project will widen an eight kilometre section of the M1 Pacific Motorway between the Somersby and Kariong interchanges from four to six lanes.

“The project will involve upgrading three of the four ramps at the Kariong interchange and adding an extra lane in each direction on the M1,” Mrs Wicks said.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter and Central Coast, Scot MacDonald MLC said the upgrades would benefit residents throughout the Hunter as well as the Central Coast.

“The upgrade will cater for predicted increases in traffic and the growing freight task in the Central Coast, Hunter and North Coast regions,” Mr MacDonald said.

The Australian Government is providing $195.8 million and the New South Wales Government $196.2 million to the M1 Productivity Package.

Media Contacts
For Mr Truss: Brett Heffernan - 0467 650 020
For Mrs Wicks: Tim Sowden - 0422 993 373
For Mr MacDonald: Scot MacDonald - 0408 450 032

View the original media release