Construction has commenced on two major upgrades on the M1 Pacific Motorway in New South Wales. The $391.6 million project – which is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments – will upgrade the section of road at Beresfield and between the Kariong and Somersby interchanges.
“Currently, there are more than 70,000 light and heavy vehicles travelling on the M1 between the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney daily, and with these numbers expected to increase, the M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades will tackle congestion and future-proof one of Australia’s busiest roads,” Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said.
In December 2017, Fulton Hogan was appointed to deliver the Kariong to Somersby upgrade. On the other hand, Georgiou Group was awarded the contract to deliver the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection upgrade in January 2018.
According to NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, the Weakleys Drive and John Rensahw Drive interchange upgrade in Beresfield will help improve the safety and traffic flow along the route by expanding the intersection with additional lanes and new cycle lanes as well as replacing the existing roundabout with traffic lights.
“The first stage of works involves the removal of traffic islands and infilling the roundabout, widening road shoulders and placing barriers, future proofing this key north-south corridor,” Mrs Pavey said.
Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said that works on the Kariong to Somersby interchanges will initially involve placing barriers, signage and line marking along the route that will ensure a safe work zone to prepare for major construction activity.
“This is more good news for thousands of Central Coast commuters. We’re wideing an eight-kilometre stretch of the M1 between the Somersby and Kariong interchanges, taking it from four lanes to six, and upgrading three of the four busy interchange ramps that’s the main access to and from the motorway to the Central Coast Highway and Gosford,” Mrs Wicks said.
This multi-million dollar project also includes the Tuggerah and Doyalson upgrade that commenced construction in January 2018. For this section of the M1 Motorway Upgrade, CPB Contractors has been awarded the contract to deliver the package of works.
Works on the Beresfield section is expected to be completed in 2019 and the remaining sections are projected to be completed in 2020, weather permitting.
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Source: Minister for Urban infrastructure and Cities, Roads & Maritime Services (1, 2)