A further $80 million is being injected into the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace in the Hunter.
The additional Federal Government funding brings the spend for the project to $1.68 billion, making it one of the region’s biggest ever infrastructure projects.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce says the extension will keep freight moving and get people home sooner.
“Our Government is committed to delivering this transformational project, which will bust congestion to provide more reliable travel times for commuters,” he said.
“It’s going to be a real game-changer for motorists, delivering a 15-kilometre extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway with two lanes in each direction from Black Hill to Raymond Terrace.
“This will ease congestion for more than 25,000 vehicles a day travelling between Newcastle and Maitland.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet added that the M1 upgrade was part of the state’s record $100 billion infrastructure pipeline.
“This project will support growth right across the Hunter and Newcastle regions bringing a generational shift in productivity, built on a strong, integrated transport network,” Perrottet said.
“It’s a government priority and will benefit every family in the region by helping get workers to and from work more safely, spending less time in traffic and more time with each other.”
Senator for New South Wales Perin Davey said, “Our regional industries are export industries and that means we rely on safe, efficient and timely freight journeys to get our products to market. This project will deliver on that goal.
“To have both state and federal governments working together means we can get these projects delivered without delay and keep Australia moving forward.”
While Senator for New South Wales Hollie Hughes pointed to the efficiencies to be gained. “We see a lot of freight making the journey up the coast from Sydney, including into Queensland, and this will help make those trips more efficient, saving truckies time and businesses money.
“Ensuring local goods can get out to national and international markets is critical for regional businesses and the economy, which is why we are investing in critical road connections such as this.”
The $2.1 billion project is jointly funded, with the Australian Government committing $1.68 billion and the NSW Government committing $420 million.
This funding will also enable the delivery of the Hexham Straight Widening project, which is currently going through planning approval processes.