M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace

 
On Tuesday 16 January 2024 the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese visited the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace project to inspect construction progress.

As part of the press conference, Mr Albanese stated that:

"The M1 Pacific Motorway’s ‘missing link’ will finally be fixed, thanks to investment from the Australian and NSW governments. The $2.1 billion M1 extension, which includes upgrades to the surrounding network, such as the Hexham Straight widening, is funded by both levels of government.

It will feature a 15-kilometre extension of the motorway, removing five sets of traffic lights and cutting nine minutes from travel times during peak periods. It will also deliver a 2.6-kilometre viaduct over the Hunter River and floodplain, the Main North Rail Line, and the New England Highway. Additionally, there will be new bridge crossings over local waterways at Tarro and Raymond Terrace, and an overpass for Masonite Road at Heatherbrae.

This is one of two remaining locations on the east coast corridor where the route is an urban road with traffic lights – the other is at Coffs Harbour, where work is also well underway on a new bypass due to be completed in late 2027. The M1 extension at Raymond Terrace is expected to be open to traffic in 2028."

Access the 16 January press release.

Have your say on the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Communication Management Plan (CMP) for the 10-kilometre southern section from Black Hill to Tomago. Access our interactive portal to have your say! 

As part of our sustainability commitments, we are submitting the Communication Management Plan (CMP) for public review and feedback. The CMP provides a plan for delivery of the communications requirements for the M1 extension project and identifies communication tools which will be implemented, timelines for delivery and work specific mitigation measures.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) is the peak body for infrastructure sustainability, advocating for the delivery of cultural, social, economic and environmental benefits in all infrastructure projects.

To meet ISC sustainability commitments and to ensure the CMP delivers communication and engagement programs that achieve the highest standard for the community we are seeking feedback until Friday 30 November 2023.

Head to our interactive portal where you can download the CMP and submit your feedback. You can also email us your feedback at m12rt@transport.nsw.gov.au with the subject heading CMP feedback or call us on 1800 094 895.

Have your say on the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Design and Landscape Plans. Access our interactive portal to have your say! 

As part of our design process, we are asking for feedback from the community on the Design and Landscape Plan (DLP) for each contract section. This includes the 10-kilometre southern contract section from Black Hill to Tomago and the five-kilometre northern contract section from Tomago to Raymond Terrace. The DLPs outline the design and landscape objectives of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace and set the framework for the project to deliver great places for the community.

Head to our interactive portal where you can view artist’s impressions, find out more about what’s included in the draft DLPs and submit your feedback. You can also email us your feedback at m12rt@transport.nsw.gov.au with the subject heading DLP feedback or call us on 1800 094 895.

Thank you for your feedback. Submissions closed at 5pm on Thursday 5 October 2023.
 

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace project received planning approval from the NSW Minister for Planning and Homes on 8 November 2022. The Federal Minister for the Environment and Water subsequently approved the project on 13 February 2023. With planning approval received and Conditions of Approval (CoA) confirmed, early work for the M1 extension project will start soon. To see what type of work we’ll be doing and where, view our project update (PDF, 1.15 MB).

Conditions of Approval

The CoA are required to prevent, minimise and/or offset adverse environmental and community impacts. The CoA for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace have targeted minimising impacts to native vegetation and threatened species, and mitigating impacts related to noise, water quality and flooding.

Other CoA focus on mitigating impacts from existing soil contamination and reducing the impacts of construction traffic. The CoA ensure Transport and its contractors meet performance measures and reduce impacts to the environment and the community.

The CoA can be found on the Department of Planning Environment’s (DPE) website.

To see the latest project update and our plan for early works over the coming months, explore our interactive portal or download the latest project update (PDF, 1.15 MB).

We are pleased to announce that the successful tenderers of the two major contracts for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension are John Holland Gamuda Australia Joint Venture and Seymour Whyte Constructions.

The Australian Government and New South Wales Government have announced John Holland Gamuda Australia Joint Venture as the successful contractors for the southern contract, which is a 10-kilometre section that extends from Black Hill to Tomago, and Seymour Whyte Constructions as the successful contractors for the northern contract, which is a five-kilometre section that bypasses Heatherbrae.

Major construction will start next year with the extension being delivered using two design and construct contracts to ensure innovation, efficiency and value for money.

The NSW Minister for Planning has given the tick of approval for this project, and we expect the Australian Government to provide planning approval early next year.

The project is expected to be open to traffic in mid-2028.

Learn more about John HollandGamuda Australia Joint Venture and Seymour Whyte Constructions.

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace formal tender period has now closed.

We thank all shortlisted contractors for their involvement in this process.

We will now assess and evaluate the bids received and we look forward to announcing the successful contractors later this year.

Throughout the tender period, we held over 20 tender interactive sessions focusing on technical innovation, design and commercial management.

The major construction phase of the extension will be delivered using two design and construct contracts to ensure innovation, efficiency and value for money in the delivery of the project.

The delivery of the project is expected to create 2700 jobs during construction.

We are continuing to build our knowledge of your community to help us identify ways to minimise impacts during future early work activities and major construction. The more we know about your engagement preferences, the more we can communicate in a way that best suits you.

Complete the Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace community survey. This survey closed in February 2023.

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was on public exhibition between Wednesday 28 July 2021 and Tuesday 24 August 2021. We thank those who engaged with us during this time.

We have prepared a submissions report which responds to the submissions received from the community, NSW Government agencies and local councils during the EIS exhibition period. The submissions report is now available on our interactive portal and the Department of Planning and Environment's DPE Major Projects website. For more information, please see our June 2022 Project Update (PDF, 3.61Mb).

Companies shortlisted to build the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace have been officially announced following approval from the Australian and NSW governments.

For the southern section, which will be a 10 kilometre section from Black Hill to Tomago, CPB Contractors, Acciona Infrastructure Australia, John Holland Gamuda Australia Joint Venture have been shortlisted.

For the northern section, which includes a five kilometre bypass of Heatherbrae, Seymour Whyte Constructions and BMD Constructions have been shortlisted.

The Federal Government has announced a further $80 million to ensure delivery of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace. This additional commitment brings the total investment for the project to $1.68 billion. The M1 Pacific Motorway extension and Hexham Straight widening projects are being jointly funded with a total investment of $2.1 billion - $1.68 billion provided by the Federal Government and $420 million from the NSW Government.

The M1 Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway are critical links in the National Land Transport Network and among the busiest transport corridors in Australia.

Planning for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to the Pacific Highway at Raymond Terrace started in October 2004 and has involved an extensive community consultation program to identify a preferred route and develop a concept design.

A design was displayed for community comment in 2008 with feedback considered to develop a refined design which was announced in 2010. The route was reserved in the Newcastle and Port Stephens Local Environmental Plans.

Transport for NSW provided a Community Update on the project in 2016, and invited comments from the community on the revised design to ensure the proposal provided the best outcome for road users, the environment and the community.

Feedback from the 2016 Community Update was considered by Transport for NSW, with further design improvements made to incorporate major improvements for connectivity to the surrounding road network and minimise environmental impacts.

Design improvements made since 2016 include:

Following community consultation, we have made further design improvements including:

• Improved direct access from the Pacific Highway in and out of the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens
• A centralised interchange located at Old Punt Road at Tomago
• Improved access to the northbound M1 Motorway entry ramp at Tomago

Timing for construction is not confirmed and is subject to planning approval.

The proposed 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
• a 2.6 kilometre bridge over Woodlands Close, the Main Northern Railway, New England Highway and Hunter River
• minimum flood immunity along the new roadway for a one in 20 year event.

Key benefits of the proposal include:

• improved connection between the M1 Pacific Motorway and the Pacific Highway
• improved traffic flow for motorists and freight for more reliable travel times
• improved accessibility to the surrounding road network
• improved safety for all road users.

During the next phase of the project we will:

• start major construction following Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) approval from the Department of Planning and Environment
• continue to consult with property owners, residents, project focus groups and other impacted stakeholders
• complete investigations into to the project that better address future transport and community needs.

For answers to frequently asked questions, view our interactive portal for more information.

To learn more about community consultations for this project, view our interactive portal for more information.

For project notifications, view our interactive portal for more information.

For community updates, view our interactive portal for more information.

To learn more about this project, view our interactive portal for more information.

To view project postcards, view our interactive portal for more information.

To learn more about this project, view our interactive portal for more information.

• September 2015 discussion paper – revised concept design report
  M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.

• December 2010 concept design submissions report
  M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.

• July 2008 concept design submissions report
  M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.

• August 2006 preferred route report
  F3 Freeway to Raymond Terrace - Upgrading the Pacific Highway.

• October 2005 route options development report
  F3 Freeway to Raymond Terrace - Upgrading the Pacific Highway.