M1 extension to Raymond Terrace brought forward to late 2026 as Heatherbrae Bypass completed

8 April 2026

newy.com.au – The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace is now expected to open to traffic in late 2026, more than a year earlier than originally planned, after completion of the northern Heatherbrae Bypass.

The Commonwealth and NSW governments said the milestone meant the northern section of the project was ready to open once work on the 10-kilometre southern section from Black Hill to Tomago was finished later this year. The M1 Pacific Motorway extension and Hexham Straight widening projects are jointly funded with a total investment of $2.24 billion, including $1.792 billion from the Albanese Government and $448 million from the Minns Government.

The Heatherbrae Bypass includes five kilometres of new motorway. The Raymond Terrace interchange, the Masonite Road overpass and a major bridge crossing at Windeyers Creek have also been completed as part of the northern section.

Contractors will remain on site after the motorway opens to monitor how the new road adjusts to carrying highway traffic, undertake landscaping establishment and carry out targeted maintenance as required, for up to two years on the southern section and one year on the northern section.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the project was now well past the halfway mark. “This is a big day for one of the largest infrastructure projects in the Hunter’s history. Completion of the Heatherbrae section of this project means we are well and truly past the halfway mark, with all work set to be completed by the end of the year,” she said.

Ms King said the project would ease pressure on a heavily used route. “Nearly 25,000 vehicles use this road on a normal day, with that number swelling during the holiday breaks,” she said.

NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the completion of the bypass was an important step in delivering benefits across the region. “Now that the Heatherbrae Bypass is complete, this next step is linking it properly into the motorway so the benefits are felt right across the Hunter,” she said.

NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the project’s accelerated delivery reflected work on the ground and would bring earlier benefits for motorists. “The project is now progressing ahead of the previously expected 2028 completion, with the full motorway on track to open in late 2026,” she said.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the opening would help tackle one of the region’s worst choke points. “By the end of the year, we’ll finally be able say goodbye to the Hexham Bridge bottleneck,” she said.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson said the completion of the Heatherbrae Bypass showed the project was moving closer to delivery for the community, while Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said the motorway would mean less time stuck in traffic around Hexham and Heatherbrae. Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said the northern section’s completion would help take pressure off local roads and improve safety once the full motorway opened.