M1 Pacific MotorwayExtension to Raymond TerraceHave your say – Revised concept design
October 2015
The NSW Government is providing $3 million in 2015-16 to continue planning for a future extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to the Pacific Highway at Raymond Terrace. A revised concept design has been developed, which includes major improvements for connectivity to the surrounding road network and minimises environmental impacts. Feedback is being invited on the proposal by 6 November 2015 and will be considered in completing the concept design and carrying out the environmental assessment.
Project update October 2015 RMS 15.339
Hexham, August 2015
BackgroundThe M1 Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway are critical links in the National Land Transport Network and among the busiest transport corridors in Australia.
Planning for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to the Pacific Highway at Raymond Terrace began in 2004 and has involved an extensive community consultation program to identify a preferred route and develop a concept design.
A design was displayed for community comment in 2008 with feedback considered to develop a refined design which was announced in 2010. The route was reserved in the Newcastle and Port Stephens Local Environmental Plans.
Roads and Maritime has since reviewed and improved the 2010 design to ensure the extension provides the best outcome for road users, the environment and the community.
This project update includes information on the revised proposal including changes made since the 2010 design.
The NSW Government has committed $200 million under Rebuilding NSW to get the project ready for construction.
The timing of construction is not confirmed and is dependent on planning approval, future traffic needs and funding availability.
Project update October 2015 RMS 15.339
The proposalThe proposed upgrade includes:
• 15 kilometres of dual carriageway motorway with two lanes in each direction, bypassing Hexham and Heatherbrae
• Interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago Road and north of Heatherbrae
• A 2.6 kilometre bridge over Woodlands Close, the Main Northern Railway, New England Highway and Hunter River
• Minimum flood immunity along the new roadway between Black Hill and Tomago for a one in 100 year flood event
• Minimum flood immunity along the new roadway between Tomago and Raymond Terrace for a one in 20 year flood event.
BenefitsKey benefits of the proposal include:
• Improved connection between the M1 Pacific Motorway and the Pacific Highway
• Improved traffic flow for motorists and freight for more reliable travel times
• Improved accessibility to the surrounding road network
• Improved safety for all road users.
Changes since the 2010 designSince the 2010 design was completed, Roads and Maritime has gained considerable knowledge and experience in building large bridge structures across floodplains through projects such as the Pacific Highway bypass of Kempsey.
This knowledge and experience has been used to review the design for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.
As a result, there have been several changes made to the design at the southern end of the alignment between Black Hill and Tomago to improve connectivity to the surrounding road network and minimise or avoid environmental impacts.
The changes include:
• Moving the road alignment further to the north of the 2010 design and including a bridge structure across the Hunter River floodplain. This would minimise and avoid environmental impacts to protected wetlands next to the Hunter River and the floodplain.
• Changes to the Black Hill interchange and providing a new interchange at Tarro to improve traffic flow and connectivity between the M1 Pacific Motorway, New England Highway and John Renshaw Drive.
• Changes to the Tomago Road interchange design to improve accessibility to and from Tomago Road, which includes a new link road behind Tomago industrial area connecting to Old Punt Road and Tomago Road.
TO TAREE
2010 design
Proposed motorway
TO SYDNEY N
TOMAGOINDUSTRIAL
AREA
HEATHERBRAEINDUSTRIAL
AREA
BOTANIC GARDENS
TARRO
BLACK HILL
BERESFIELDINDUSTRIAL
AREA
Existin
g Pac
ific
Highway
New
England
Highway
Proposed motorway
Route overview
Proposed bridge
Project update October 2015 RMS 15.339
Environmental assessmentAn environmental assessment has started to determine the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposal and to identify management and mitigation measures.
The investigations will consider:
• Biodiversity and environmentally sensitive areas
• Hydrology and flooding
• Property impacts including acquisition and changes to land use
• Aboriginal and European heritage
• Traffic impacts
• Operational and construction noise
• Socio economic impacts.
Hunter Region Botanic Gardens access
N
BOTANIC GARDENS
Pro
pose
d m
oto
rway
Exi
stin
g P
acifi
c H
ighw
ay
Intersection at Botanic Gardens
entry
Raymond Terrace interchange
Existing Pacific
Highway
Interchange to provide access to Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace
Bridges over Windeyers Creek
N
Existing Pacific Highway to be bridged over the
motorway (design subject to ongoing consultation)
Upgraded intersection to cater for exiting
southbound traffic from M1
Black Hill interchange
N
Black Hill interchange modified to include south facing ramps only. North facing ramps located at new Tarro interchange.
BLACK HILL
Left in and left out only
Roundabout to be converted
to traffic lights by 2019
Southbound exit ramp off M1
Old Punt Road
New England Highway and Tarro interchange
N
2.6 kilometre bridge across floodplain and
Hunter River
M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace
Alignment moved further north to avoid environmentally sensitive
areas and improve connectivity to New England Highway, John
Renshaw Drive and Tomago Road
Tomago interchange
N
Key
New motorway and upgraded road
2010 alignment
Existing roads
New motorway entry/exit lanes
Main North rail line
Bridge
Environmentally sensitive area
Traffic directionSee inset for full interchange map
N
BOTANIC GARDENS
TOMAGOINDUSTRIAL
AREA
RAYMOND TERRACE
BLACK HILL
TARRO
BERESFIELDINDUSTRIAL
AREA
HEATHERBRAEINDUSTRIAL
AREA
Existing Pacific Highway
Existing Pacific Highway
John Renshaw Drive
We
akle
ys
Dri
ve
Exi
stin
g e
nd
of
M1
Mo
torw
ay
Woodlands Close
Qua
rter
Ses
sion
s Roa
d
And
ers
on
Dri
ve
Tom
ago R
oad
Old
Pun
t Roa
d
TOMAGOINDUSTRIAL
AREA
TARRO
Maso
nite
Ro
ad
John Renshaw Drive
New England Highway
Proposed motorway
Woodlands Close
New
Eng
land
Hig
hw
ay
Existing Pacific Highway
New link road
Old
Pun
t Roa
d
Existing interchange at Tarro retained
New bridge takes Masonite
Road over motorway
Proposedmotorway
TO TAREETO MAITLAND
TO SYDNEY
Three lanes in each
direction separated
by M1 entry lanes in centre
New
England Highway
Exis
ting
Pac
ific
Hig
hway
Protected wetlands2010 design
Hunter River
Two lanes in each direction
Northbound entry ramp to M1 New link road
New roundabout
Access to Pacific Highway via Tomago and Old Punt roads
Single lane in each direction
New Intersection
Start of entry lane to M1 from New
England Highway
Start of entry lane to M1 from John Renshaw Drive
Right lane on overpass to merge onto New England
Highway
Merge to single lane entry to M1
Bridges over floodplain
Westbound lanes on New England Highway moved further south to
accommodate M1 entry lanes
Retain existing two lane
overpass from John Renshaw
Drive
Existing Beresfield interchange modified to improve connection to
surrounding road network
See inset on reverse side
See inset on reverse side
See inset on reverse side
Exit ramp
Tomago Road
Old
Pun
t Roa
d
New link road
Have your sayFeedback on the revised concept design is invited by 6 November 2015.
Please send your feedback by:
Phoning: 1800 094 895 (during business hours)
Emailing: [email protected]
Writing to: M1 to Raymond Terrace Project Manager Roads and Maritime Services Locked Bag 2030 Newcastle NSW 2300
Visit a displayStakeholders and the community are invited to view the plans and attend a community information session to meet the project team and find out more about the project:
MarketPlace Shopping Centre, Raymond Terrace William Street, Raymond Terrace Thursday 15 October 2015 3pm to 7pm
Stockland Shopping Centre, Green Hills Molly Morgan Drive, Green Hills Saturday 17 October 2015 10am to 2pm
Further informationMore information including frequently asked questions and detailed information on technical and environmental investigations are available to view at rms.nsw.gov.au/m1rt.
October 2015RMS 15.339
Privacy Your personal information in correspondence is collected for the sole purpose of assisting in the assessment of the proposal. All information received, including names and addresses of respondents, may be published in subsequent assessment documents unless a clear indication is given in the correspondence that such information is not to be published. Otherwise Roads and Maritime Services will only disclose your personal information, without your consent, if authorised by law. Your personal information will be held by Roads and Maritime at 59 Darby Street, Newcastle NSW 2300. You have the right to access and correct the information if you believe that it is incorrect.
Involving the communityRoads and Maritime is working with the community and stakeholders during the planning process to understand issues and minimise potential impacts.
Feedback received will be considered to finalise the concept design and prepare the Environmental Impact Statement, which is expected to be displayed for community and stakeholder feedback in early 2017.
More information will be provided to the community and stakeholders as the project progresses.
What happens next?Upcoming planning activities include:
• Community and stakeholder discussions
• Finalise the concept design
• Prepare the Environmental Impact Statement for display in early 2017.
The timing of construction is not confirmed and is dependent on planning approval, future traffic needs and funding availability.
If you need help understanding this information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call us on 1300 761 923.
Project development process
Start environmental assessment
2004 – 2007 Initial planning and investigations
2008 Community consultation on the proposed upgrade
2010 Announcement of concept design
Community consultation on the
revised concept design
Early 2017 Display Environmental Impact Statement
Approval to proceed*
TWO
-WAY
CO
MM
UN
ITY
CO
NSU
LTAT
ION
WE ARE HERE
Detailed design*
Construction*
*Timing subject to planning approval and funding
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