Two landmark road projects in regional New South Wales are set to transform travel for motorists, freight operators, and local communities, with millions being invested in widening key corridors and bypassing congested town centres.
In the Hunter, drivers are already experiencing a glimpse of the future on the Hexham Straight, where the first widened section now features three lanes in each direction. The improvements extend from the Newcastle Inner City Bypass to Hexham Bridge and are designed to reduce congestion along this critical six-kilometre stretch.
Motorists turning left onto Maitland Road from the bypass now enjoy an additional 650-metre turning lane, while inbound traffic on Maitland Road benefits from extra space for right turns onto the bypass. Upgrades also include modernised traffic lights at the intersection of the bypass and Old Maitland Road, a completed U-turn facility, and new pedestrian crossings and bus stops in front of St Joseph’s Calvary Aged Care.
When complete, the $2.2 billion M1 to Raymond Terrace extension and Hexham Straight Widening—jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments, with the Australian Government contributing over $1.79 billion and the NSW Government $448 million—will deliver more reliable travel times, safer conditions for cyclists and pedestrians, and smoother freight movement. The full project is expected to open to traffic in 2026.
Meanwhile, on the NSW mid-north coast, the Coffs Harbour Bypass has marked a major construction milestone with the completion of tunnelling. The 160-metre Roberts Hill tunnel, the final of three, joins the 320-metre Shephards Lane and 410-metre Gatelys Road tunnels. The work involved half a million tonnes of rock removed using 280 tonnes of explosives across 570 controlled blasts.
Preparations are now underway to equip the tunnels for traffic, including drainage systems, road pavement, and advanced mechanical, electrical, fire, safety, and electronic signage. Each tunnel will feature two traffic lanes plus a dedicated bicycle lane, with portal designs blending into the surrounding landscape. Before the first cars drive through in late 2026, each tunnel will be ready for use. Once operational, the bypass will allow motorists to avoid up to 12 sets of traffic lights on the Pacific Highway, cutting travel times by 12 minutes and easing congestion in Coffs Harbour’s CBD.
The $2.2 billion bypass, also funded by both federal and state governments—$1.76 billion from Canberra and $440 million from NSW—has created more than 600 direct construction jobs and over 12,000 indirect roles, underscoring the economic as well as transport benefits of these major infrastructure projects.
With both the Hexham Straight widening and Coffs Harbour Bypass advancing rapidly, regional NSW communities are poised to enjoy safer, faster, and more reliable journeys in the years ahead.
