Clear skies for the coming week should ensure works proceed on the Hexham Straight Widening project and M1 Pacific Motorway extension.

Following the opening of the first widened section to traffic a fortnight ago, with three lanes in each direction, recent wet weather has hampered crews.

But, it appears it’s now all systems go.

Hexham Straight Widening project

Here’s where motorists are expected to face changed conditions:

• Traffic will be in a contraflow arrangement on the southbound lanes of Maitland Road and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place from Hexham Station to north of the Oak Precinct on Monday 25 August
• Traffic will be in a contraflow arrangement on the northbound lanes of Maitland Road and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place from Hexham Station to north of the Oak Precinct on Tuesday 26 August and Wednesday 27 August
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Sparke Street to Shamrock Street from now until Thursday 28 August. There will be a “blackout” to traffic lights on Maitland Road, located at intersection of Sparke Street and Maitland Road, from Monday 25 August to Wednesday 27 August
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Schoolhouse Road to Shell Reddy Express from now until Thursday 28 August
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Old Maitland Road (East) to Old Maitland Road (West), on Wednesday 27 August
• There will be in a contraflow arrangement on the southbound lanes of Maitland Road and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place from Old Maitland Road (East) to Old Maitland Road (West) on Monday 25 August and Tuesday 26 August
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Shell Reddy Express to Old Maitland Road (east), on Wednesday 27 August and Thursday 28 August
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Hexham Station to north of the Oak Precinct, on Thursday 28 August
• There will be mobile lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Sandgate Cemetery to the Oak Precinct, from now until Thursday 28 August

Major work resumes from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday; 7pm to 7am Sunday to Thursday; and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace

Construction continues along the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.

Motorists should be aware of the following changes at Tomago:

• Northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway at Tomago Road are now diverted over a new bridge and onto a new alignment towards Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace

Stage one Old Punt Road partial closure:

• Northbound right turn to Old Punt Road from the Pacific Highway is closed as part of the traffic change. Access to Tomago is via Tomago Road
• Northbound right turn to Pacific Highway from Old Punt Road is closed as part of the traffic change. A new right turn from Tomago Road to Pacific Highway is available

Work also restarts across the project from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday; 8am to 5pm on Saturday; and 7pm to 5am Monday to Friday.

It’ll require lane closures with intermittent stoppages and temporary speed reductions to 40km/h at the following locations and times: 

From 7pm to 5am, on the nights of Monday 25 August until Friday 29 August 

• M1 Pacific Motorway at Beresfield and Black Hill
• John Renshaw Drive at Beresfield
• New England Highway at Tarro
• Pacific Highway at Tomago and Heatherbrae 

From 7am to 5pm, Monday 25 August until Friday 29 August 

• Lenaghans Drive at Black Hill
• Old Punt Road near Pacific Highway at Tomago
• New England Highway Eastbound at Tarro 

For more news stories:

• Future of Tomaree Lodge soon to be revealed
• Work begins on major Gillieston Public School redevelopment
• Staffing ratios rolling out at Maitland Hospital

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