M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades
Project overview
Transport for NSW has upgraded the M1 Pacific Motorway between the Kariong and Somersby interchanges to improve traffic flow and safety.

The M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades that make up the $391.6 million M1 Productivity Package funded by the Australian and NSW governments are now complete, providing a better and more reliable journey on one of Australia’s busiest roads.
Latest news
Feb 2023 – Maintenance closure and detour arrangements
From Monday 20 February to Thursday 23 February 2023, the motorway will be closed at night between the Hunter Expressway interchange and John Renshaw Drive to carry out essential maintenance.
Southbound motorists will be affected Monday and Tuesday, northbound motorists will be affected Wednesday and Thursday. View the full closure details (PDF, 186.53 KB) and detour map (PDF, 205.61 KB).
Jun 2020 – Major work completed
Major work is now complete on the M1 Upgrades at Kariong and Somersby interchanges, Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges and the Weakleys Drive & John Renshaw Drive intersection.
The three major upgrades will create improved traffic flow and safer, smoother trips for more than 70,000 motorists on the M1.
To find out more about the completed projects, view the June 2020 Project Update (PDF, 2.79Mb).
We thank you for your patience and support during the work to upgrade the M1 Pacific Motorway.
Project information
Background
The M1 Pacific Motorway is an important link between Sydney and Brisbane. More than 70,000 light and heavy vehicles travel between the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney each day. These numbers are expected to increase in the future.
Benefits
The M1 Upgrades will benefit commuters, holiday traffic and heavy vehicles by:
- improving traffic flow for better travel times and more reliable trips
- allowing for predicted increases in traffic
- providing safer access to and from the motorway
- making it easier for freight to travel between Sydney and the North Coast.
Features
Key features included:
- widening the motorway to three lanes between Kariong and Somersby interchanges and between Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges
- upgrading the exit and entry ramps at the Kariong, Warnervale and Doyalson interchanges
- replacing the existing roundabout at the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection with traffic lights
- replacing old and cracked road surfaces with new pavement.
Project documents
Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG).
If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.
Project updates
- June 2020 project update
M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades – Projects completed. - August 2018 project update
Building a better M1 Pacific Motorway.
Project postcards
- June 2020 project postcard
M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades – Projects completed. - August 2018 project postcard
M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades.
Media releases
- 19 May 2021
Pacific Motorway work to improve safety and support jobs. - 30 April 2021
Safety improvement work starts on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Black Hill. - 20 July 2020
M1 rubble reused to save homes from bushfires. - 13 June 2020
M1 Pacific Motorway upgrade now complete. - 29 May 2020
Final upgrade on the M1 nears completion. - 12 December 2019
Milestone reached on M1 Upgrade at Kariong.
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Phone: 1800 841 778