Holiday Headache: Drivers Warned of Major Delays at Hexham Pinch Point

10 December 2025

newy.com.au – Holiday motorists are being urged to plan ahead and allow extra time if they are driving through Hexham on the Pacific Highway over the Christmas and New Year period, with Transport for NSW warning of heavy traffic and delays.

The link between the M1 Pacific Motorway at Beresfield and the Pacific Highway at Hexham is a key part of the major north–south route along the New England Highway and John Renshaw Drive, and authorities expect it to again be a pinch point for holiday congestion.

Transport for NSW predicts the busiest days for northbound traffic will be Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December, when delays of up to 30 minutes are expected on the approach to Hexham.

Southbound motorists are being warned to expect even longer queues, with heavy traffic predicted on Friday 2, 9 and 16 January and possible delays of up to 45 minutes.

The agency says improvements carried out on the M1 Pacific Motorway and New England Highway since last summer have already produced noticeable changes in traffic flow for drivers using the corridor.

However, a range of temporary conditions will remain in place across several construction zones, with reduced speed limits to stay over the peak holiday travel period even when work is paused.

Drivers may also encounter narrow lanes, changed lane merges and altered traffic configurations associated with the Hexham Straight Widening, M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace, and Rankin Park to Jesmond projects.

Construction work on those three projects will pause from Friday 19 December 2025 and resume on Monday 5 January 2026, but Transport for NSW says the traffic management measures will stay in place to maintain safety.

NSW Police has advised that double demerit points will apply for a range of high-risk offences during the holiday period, covering speeding, motorcycle helmet, seatbelt and mobile phone offences.

“NSW Police will enforce double demerit points for speeding, motorcycle helmet, seatbelt and mobile phone offences from Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026,” “Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time,” the agency stated.

Drivers are being encouraged to factor predicted delays into their journey planning and to check for real-time updates before setting off.

For more details about expected traffic conditions at Hexham and other known holiday pinch points, motorists can visit the NSW Holiday and Journey planning website, download the Live Traffic NSW app, check the Hexham incident page or call 132 701.