The widening of a six-kilometre stretch of Maitland Rd near Newcastle can't come quickly enough for the 50,000 drivers and truck drivers using it every day
A six-kilometre stretch of the Pacific Highway known as Maitland Rd and the Hexham straight is about to be given a major makeover.
The work, which covers the stretch of road from Hexham Bridge in the north to the Newcastle inner city bypass to the south, is part of a larger body of roadworks that includes a 15km extension of the Pacific Highway to Raymond Terrace.
Transport for NSW regional director north Anna Zycki announced late last month that Georgiou Group Pty Ltd, Daracon Contractors Pty Ltd and SMEC Australia Pty Ltd had been chosen to collaborate of the project which aims to improve safety and traffic flow for the 50,000 motorists and heavy vehicles that use the route every day.
“The work will be delivered as part of a collaborative alliance contract to ensure innovation, efficiency and value for money in bringing the plan to life,” Zycki says.
“The Hexham project is part of one of the biggest infrastructure projects for the region, which also includes extending the M1 to Raymond Terrace.
“The Australian Government and NSW Government have worked together to provide $2.1 billion to deliver the M1 extension and the Hexham Straight widening projects – with $1.68 billion from the Australian Government and $420 million from NSW.”
Zycki says the project will support economic growth at key employment areas such as the Port of Newcastle and Greater Newcastle and it is estimated to provide about 750 jobs over its life cycle.
“Early works are well and truly underway with Transport for NSW carrying out field investigations to assist with the future detailed design and construction.”
The main features of the Hexham Straight project are:
- Upgrades to the six-kilometre section of the Pacific Highway between the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge.
- Widening of the dual carriageway from two lanes to three lanes in each direction
- Demolition of the existing Ironbark bridge and construction of two new bridges at Ironbark Creek
- Minor intersection upgrades and property adjustments
- Utility relocation.
“This is an exciting time for the Hunter and NSW as this project, together with the Coffs Harbour bypass, will provide the remaining major upgrades to complete a free-flowing route between Sydney and Brisbane with no traffic lights,” Zycki says.
Construction work is expected start mid next year, with the project expected to be open to traffic in 2026. See nswroad.work/hexham