The Australian and New South Wales governments are investing $15 million to fix the travel time delays when navigating the junction of the M1 Pacific Motorway, John Renshaw Drive, Weakleys Drive and New England Highway at Beresfield.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australia’s transport industry.
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly Deals on Wheels magazine.
- Sell your truck with Australia’s #1 truck classifieds
The major traffic bottleneck has a lack of road capacity, multiple traffic signals and high traffic volumes, and through the John Renshaw Drive project, these works aim to cut congestion, reduce travel times and improve road safety.
NSW regional transport and roads minister Jenny Aitchison says John Renshaw Drive is a key connector between Maitland, Newcastle, Cessnock, Wallsend and the Upper Hunter.
“Upgrades to John Renshaw Drive will support the development of proposed industrial areas as well as the broader regional economy by providing more efficient access for commuters and heavy freight between the Lower and Upper Hunter and to key regional employment areas such as the Port of Newcastle and Newcastle Airport,” she says.
“This incredibly important planning is one of several projects, including M1 to Raymond Terrace and Hexham Straight Widening, we are undertaking to address current and predicted traffic growth at the critical strategic junction of the M1 Motorway, Pacific and New England highways.”
The state government will investigate upgrades to John Renshaw Drive including improvement options for the intersection of the M1 Motorway and Weakleys Drive; lane duplication of Weakleys Drive between Enterprise Drive and Canavan Drive; and access from Weakleys Drive to the New England Highway.
Once designed and delivered, the upgrades will reduce travel times for motorists and make movement of freight more efficient along a key part of the regional freight network which connects to the Port of Newcastle and Newcastle Airport.
Further traffic and economic modelling is being conducted to confirm what the proposed upgrades will include and the final design.
Timelines for construction will be dependent on further funding and planning approvals.
Read more:
- Looking back at the 2024 Truck of the Show Winners
- Team Transport rolls in fleet of rigs to Brisbane Convoy
- Freightmore Transport expands its footprint
- Goulburn Convoy for Kids raises over $90,000 for kids in need
- A look back at the Mount Gambier Truck Show
Check out the Deals on Wheels Facebook here.