Kariong to Somersby - M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades

The upgrade was completed in May 2020.We thank you for your support during the M1 Upgrades.

To find out more about the completed M1 Upgrade projects, view the June 2020 Project Update (PDF, 2.79Mb).

The M1 Pacific Motorway is an important link for motorists travelling between Sydney to Brisbane, which is one of the busiest transport routes in Australia.

The upgrade between Kariong and Somersby interchanges catered for the expected increase in traffic forecast as a result of growth in the Central Coast, Hunter and North Coast, along with increased freight demand.

This project is part of the M1 Upgrades, which also included upgrading the M1 between the Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges and at the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection. The M1 Upgrades make up the $391.6 million M1 Productivity Package funded by the Australian and NSW governments to improve traffic flow and safety.

Key benefits include:

• increased traffic capacity of the motorway and Kariong interchange will result in reduced delays and improved travel times
• three travel lanes in both directions allowing for predicted increases in traffic
• improved road safety and capacity improvements for motorists to and from the motorway by lengthening and widening ramps at the Kariong interchange
• improved safety for freight to travel between Sydney and the North Coast.

A primary focus was the upgrade of three of the four ramps at the Kariong interchange to increase capacity and safety for merging traffic by:

• extending and widening the northbound exit ramp (to Gosford) to two lanes exiting the motorway
• extending the northbound entry ramp (to Newcastle) and upgrading its intersection with Wisemans Ferry Road
• extending and widening the southbound entry ramp lanes (to Sydney) to two lanes joining the motorway.

Features of the upgrade included:

• widening the motorway between the Kariong and Somersby interchanges to provide three lanes in each direction
• repairing and replacing sections of the motorway between Kariong and Somersby interchanges to improve road surfaces
• extending and widening three of the four ramps at the Kariong interchange.

Road widening work did not take place on the section of motorway between the north-facing and south-facing ramps at the Kariong interchange. Traffic modelling shows this section of motorway meets current and predicted traffic capacity requirements.

• March 2020 project notification
  M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades – Kariong to Somersby - Construction update.
• March 2020 project notification
  Night work southbound on the M1 Pacific Motorway from Sunday 22 March.
• December 2019 project notification
  Christmas holiday update – M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrade between Kariong and Somersby interchanges
• October 2019 project notification
  M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades – Kariong to Somersby - Construction update.
• October 2019 project notification
  Night work on the M1 Pacific Motorway between Kariong and Somersby interchanges from Tuesday 1 October 2019.
• July 2019 project notification
  M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades – Kariong to Somersby.
• June 2019 project notification
  Night work on the M1 Pacific Motorway between Kariong and Somersby interchanges from Monday 1 July 2019.
• April 2019 project notification
  M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades – Kariong to Somersby.