The final girders are now in place on the new northbound bridge over Ironbark Creek (Toohrnbing) on the Hexham Straight Widening project.
It marks another noteworthy milestone along one of the Hunter’s most significant infrastructure ventures.
A total of 65 beams each weighing about 20 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of 10 family cars – were lifted into place, forming the foundation of the three-lane structure.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and its delivery partners – an alliance of Georgiou, Daracon Contractors and SMEC – are now focused on completing the bridge deck, installing barriers and progressing the road surfacing.
It’s expected to open to traffic by early 2026.
“There will be no sub-par work on this project,” Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said.
“This is one of the most important road corridors in the Hunter… and we are building infrastructure that will last – not just for today, but for decades to come.
“In the 1870s, the first timber truss bridge was opened over Ironbark Creek, connecting Newcastle to Maitland.
“Now, we’re seeing the final girder placed on a new, modern structure that will carry this connection forward for generations.”
The Hexham Straight upgrade is a key part of the $2.2 billion M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
With around 50,000 vehicles using this stretch of road each day, it aims to relieve congestion, improve safety and provide more reliable travel for both commuters and freight operators.
“This is an exciting step forward on one of Newcastle and the Hunter’s most critical road projects,” Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said.
“The six-kilometre upgrade between the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge will see the current two-lane dual carriageway widened to three in each direction, removing a well-known bottleneck and helping to future-proof the region’s road network.
“Motorists are already seeing the transformation take shape.
“But, more changes will become visible as construction continues.”
Paterson MP Meryl Swanson was equally-delighted.
“The final girder lift is another breakthrough for the Hexham Straight upgrade,” she said.
“I’m proud to see this progress delivered thanks to a strong collaboration between the Australian and NSW Governments.
“The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace is a major investment in our region’s future.
“And, the Hexham Straight Widening is a critical phase towards its completion.
“My thanks to all the commuters for their patience during construction… and to the incredible roadworkers and project teams for their hard work in making it all become a reality.”
The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace includes the Hexham Straight Widening and is being delivered with $1.8 billion from the Australian Government and $448 million from the NSW Government.
The entire upgrade is expected to open to traffic in 2026.
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