M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades

The M1 Upgrades will benefit commuters, holiday traffic and heavy vehicles by:

• improving traffic flow for better travel times and more reliable trips
• allowing for predicted increases in traffic
• providing safer access to and from the motorway
• making it easier for freight to travel between Sydney and the North Coast.

Key features include:

• widening the motorway to three lanes between Kariong and Somersby interchanges and between Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges
• upgrading the exit and entry ramps at the Kariong, Warnervale and Doyalson interchanges
• replacing the existing roundabout at the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection with traffic lights
• replacing old and cracked road surfaces with new pavement.

Why does it take so long to build the upgrades?

We are carrying out a range of complex engineering work to build the upgrades. This includes improving safety and capacity at four key interchanges, replacing a roundabout with traffic lights, widening and building motorway bridges, rebuilding over 50 kilometres of existing lanes and adding around 35 kilometres of new lanes to the M1. Each stage of construction has been designed to have the least possible impact on the 70,000 motorists using the motorway each day.

Why is the speed limit 80km/h, especially when I can't see work happening on site?

We have placed safety barriers on the motorway, to establish a safe zone for our workers. The barriers were placed at the same time as new line-marking which has reduced the lane widths and narrowed shoulders, making it unsafe for motorists and heavy vehicles to travel at speeds higher than 80km/h.

How much longer will these upgrades add to my trip?

The work has been designed to minimise impacts to motorists, however travel times will still be affected by traffic congestion during the morning and afternoon peak hours and particularly during holiday periods.