M1 Hunter bypass opens: 7-9 min cut for freight on $2.24B corridor
The $2.24 billion M1 Pacific Motorway extension between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace opens to traffic on September 11, 2026, removing the Hexam-Heatherbrae bottleneck that has disrupted east coast freight for generations. For supply chain operators, it completes the Sydney-to-Brisbane motorway link, cuts peak-hour travel by seven to nine minutes, and diverts up to 25,000 vehicles a day off local streets. The federal government contributed almost $1.8 billion of the jointly funded project.
Source: newcastleherald.com.au · portstephensexaminer.com.au