Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Pacific Motorway, Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Gore Hill Freeway, Warringah Freeway, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Cahill Expressway, Eastern Distributor, Southern Cross Drive, General Holmes Drive, The Grand Parade, President Avenue, Princes Highway & Princes Motorway (M1 / A1)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

M1 A1

Pacific Motorway, Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Gore Hill Freeway, Warringah Freeway, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Cahill Expressway, Eastern Distributor, Southern Cross Drive, General Holmes Drive, The Grand Parade, President Avenue, Princes Highway & Princes Motorway (M1 / A1) - Beresfield to Morisset

Statistics:

Length: 1354 km (Beresfield to Morisset: 40 km)
Northern Terminus: Queensland Border at Tweed Heads, continues as Pacific Motorway (M1)
Southern Terminus: Victorian Border at Timbillica, continues as Princes Highway (A1)
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route: Beresfield, Lenaghan, Stockrington, Seahampton, Cameron Park, West Wallsend, Killingworth, Ryhope, Freemans Waterhole, Dora Creek, Cooranbong and Morisset

Route Numbering:

Current: M1

Former:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW9 (Beresfield to Hexham) & 6003 (Wahroonga to Beresfield and Brunswick Heads to Queensland border) 1

General Information:

M1 / A1 is the principal coastal route through New South Wales, and forms part of the circumferential route around Australia.

The route varies greatly along its length and includes sections of rural highway, urban arterial road, divided rural highway and also motorway. The route also features several tunnels, located in the inner east, inner south and lower northern suburbs of Sydney and at Yelgun and Tweed Heads, at the northern end of the route in NSW. The route passes through forest, rural, residential, commercial and industrial areas.

Pacific Motorway:

Pacific Motorway is broken into 2 sections.

The southernmost section runs between Wahroonga, in Sydney's northern suburbs to Beresfield, located west of Newcastle and is the former Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. Built in several stages, with the first commencing in the late 1960s, the route traverses some of the toughest terrain between Sydney and Newcastle and bypasses the Central Coast and majority of the populated areas in the Hunter Valley and forms part of the main route between Sydney and Brisbane.

The northernmost section runs from Brunswick Heads through to the Queensland border, and features 2 tunnels, one at Yelgun and the other at Tweed Heads, which travels under Coolangatta Airport in Queensland.

The southern section of the Pacific Motorway (formerly Sydney-Newcastle Freeway) is the major arterial highway between Sydney and Newcastle. Starting life as the Berowra-Calga Tollway, the route has been gradually extended and improved until the Palmdale / Ourimbah gap and Lengahans Drive bypass were completed in the late 90's. The route replaced several sections of very windy road between Berowra and the southern reaches of Newcastle. 2

The southern section of the motorway starts with the junction of the Pacific Highway (A1) and Pennant Hills Road (A28) at Pearce's Corner, Wahroonga in Sydney's north. From here it goes north, skirting the western edge of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park before meeting the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn. After crossing the Hawkesbury the motorway passes through the Brisbane Water National Park, crossing Mooney Mooney Creek with an impressive 480m long and 75m high bridge before reaching the first main interchange on the Central Coast at Kariong. 1

After reaching Kariong, the motorway continues through rural and semi-rural areas of the Central Coast with interchanges provided at Ourimbah, Tuggerah, Warnervale and also Kiar, near Doyalson. From the Doyalson interchange the freeway continues to the west of Lake Macquarie with interchanges near Morisset, Cessnock, Toronto and Cardiff. The Doyalson interchange is with what is known as Doyalson Link Road (formerly Motorway Link) a connection feeder to the Pacific Highway (A43), when the motorway ended at this interchange in the mid 1980s. 2

After the Cardiff interchange a link road takes traffic into Newcastle via Wallsend while the motorway continues north to reach its finish with a roundabout at the junction of Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive (A1 and B68), Beresfield. From here motorists continue to Brisbane via John Renshaw Drive (A1) and the New England Highway (A1) eastbound to meet the Pacific Highway at Hexham.

The Pacific Motorway is part of the Auslink National Network, and is the major road linking Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle. It also links with the Hunter Expressway (M15), New England Highway (A43) and Pacific Highway (A1), for travel to northern New South Wales and Queensland. The Pacific Motorway (formerly Sydney-Newcastle Freeway) is a vital link for around 75 000 motorists that use the freeway daily, the majority of whom travel between the Central Coast and Hunter regions and Sydney. During weekends and school holidays, the Pacific Motorway is heavily used by motorists travelling to and returning from northern New South Wales and Queensland holiday destinations. 2

History:

Pacific Motorway (south):

The southern section of the Pacific Motorway (formerly the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway) replaced the Pacific Highway which was built in the 1920s along a route that had existed since 1840s, when settler George Peat cut a track to his property on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. 1

Planning began for the freeway in the 1950s, with the aim of providing a high-speed replacement to a section of the Pacific Highway which was built in the 1920s and was struggling to cope with the increased traffic volume. Furthermore it was planned that the freeway would connect to freeway systems being proposed for both Sydney and Newcastle, providing a city-to-city freeway link. However, due to several reasons the goal and route of the freeway changed significantly so that today it serves to bypass Newcastle rather than go into it. 2

Firstly, the route between Mount White and Kariong was originally planned to go further east than the current route with an easier crossing of Mooney Mooney Creek. By the time that construction was to begin on this section resistance from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to the proposed route forced the government to take a route through Calga which at the time would have formed part of a route to Singleton. 2

The route through Wyong Shire changed as well; instead of passing along the western edge of the Tuggerah Lakes development in that area resulted in the freeway moving further west with a link road being constructed to meet the Pacific Highway near Doyalson. 2

Perhaps the most significant effect on the freeway's route and its connections was the anti-freeway movement of the 1970s. Strong public resistance to freeways being constructed within cities along with less than favourable results from government inquiries resulted in unconstructed freeway projects being cancelled and those under construction being revised or cut short. For the then Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, this meant that the connecting Lane Cove Valley and North-Western Freeways in Sydney would not be built - forcing traffic to travel along the Pacific Highway between Wahroonga and the city. In addition, the freeway would now go to the west of Lake Macquarie rather than the east and bypass Newcastle. Sections of A37 (formerly State Route 123), one of the two expressway routes that the freeway would have connected to in Newcastle, have been constructed, while the freeway route between Belmont and Bennetts Green and the connecting expressway route to Merewether are still reserved with the possibility that they could be constructed in the future. 2

A plaque near the former Mooney Mooney toll plaza (now ambulance station), commemorating the Hawkesbury River to Mt White section of the route, reads as follows: 1

Sydney - Newcastle Road

The first pioneer trade directly connecting Sydney and areas north of the Hawkesbury River was established in 1844 when a ferry service between Kangaroo Point and Mooney Mooney Point was connected by George Peat. The rough tracks north of the River lead to Wollombi, Cessnock, Maitland and Newcastle. Prior to 1844 travellers to and from the areas north of The Hawkesbury River had to travel a long and circuitous route via Windsor and Wisemans Ferry. With the opening of the Railway between Sydney and Newcastle in 1889, the Northern Road via Peats Ferry fell into disuse. Direct Road access from Sydney to Newcastle was re-established by the Main Roads Board in 1930 with the opening to traffic of a new motor road constructed from Hornsby to Gosford as part of the Pacific Highway and the provision of a vehicular ferry service across the Hawkesbury River. The road bridge which replaced the ferry service was completed in 1945. The Toll work from Hawkesbury River to Mount White approximately 5 ¾ miles opened to traffic on 15th December 1965, is ultimately to form part of an expressway between Sydney and Newcastle which will replace the Pacific Highway as the principal arterial road between these cities. It is the first major rural expressway construction to be undertaken in New South Wales.

The Hon. P.H. Morton, MLA
Minister for Highways

J.A.L. Shaw D.S.O., B.E.
Commissioner for Main Roads

29 March 1988: The 13 km section of Morisset to Freemans Interchange section opened to traffic.

December 1990: Freeway completed from Wallarah Creek to Palmer's Road. 1

December 1993: Palmer's Road to Minmi section opened. 1

December 1998: Final stage of freeway opened between Minmi and John Renshaw Drive, Beresfield. 2

Beresfield to Morisset		Morisset to Beresfield
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the roundabout with Pacific Mwy (M1), John Renshaw Dr (A1 & B68) and Weakleys Dr at Beresfield, December 2016. A1 becomes M1 at this point. Image © Spenser Tan		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Cooranbong approaching Freemans Dr (B82), October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Start Pacific Motorway: Bypass lane onto the beginning of Pacific Mwy (M1) from John Renshaw Dr (A1) at Beresfield, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Cooranbong approaching Freemans Dr (B82), April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Black Hill, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Cooranbong approaching Freemans Dr (B82), October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Lenaghans Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at Lenaghans Dr at Black Hill, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Freemans Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at Freemans Dr interchange, Freemans Waterhole, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Lenaghans Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at Lenaghans Dr at Black Hill, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Freemans Waterhole approaching Palmers Rd, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Start Pacific Motorway: Official beginning of Pacific Mwy (M1) at Black Hill, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Freemans Waterhole approaching Palmers Rd, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Hill Road: Pacific Mwy (M1) as it passes under Black Hill Road, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Awaba Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Awaba (Palmers Rd) Interchange at Freemans Waterhole, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Stockrington Road: Pacific Mwy (M1) as passes over Stockrington Rd at Minmi, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Awaba Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Awaba (Palmers Rd) Interchange at Freemans Waterhole, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Newcastle (Newcastle Link Rd (A15)) interchange at Minmi, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Freemans Waterhole, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Newcastle (Newcastle Link Rd (A15)) interchange at Minmi, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for Pacific Hwy (A1) on Pacific Mwy (M1) at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Newcastle Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Newcastle (Newcastle Link Rd (A15)) interchange at Minmi, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at West Wallsend approaching Hunter Expwy (M15), Newcastle Link Rd (A15) and George Booth Dr (B89), October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Newcastle Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Newcastle (Newcastle Link Rd (A15)) interchange at Minmi, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at West Wallsend approaching Hunter Expwy (M15), Newcastle Link Rd (A15) and George Booth Dr (B89), October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Newcastle Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Newcastle (Newcastle Link Rd (A15)) interchange at Minmi, October 2016. Also part of this interchange is Hunter Expwy (M15) and George Booth Dr (B89), but there are no southbound on ramps to those roads. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at West Wallsend approaching Hunter Expwy (M15), Newcastle Link Rd (A15) and George Booth Dr (B89), April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	George Booth Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) as it passes under George Booth Dr at Cameron Park, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		West Wallsend Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the West Wallsend (Hunter Expwy (M15), Newcastle Link Rd (A15) and George Booth Dr (B89)) Interchange at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		George Booth Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the George Booth Dr (B89) interchange at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	O'Donnelltown Road: Pacific Mwy (M1) as it passes under O'Donnelltown Rd at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at West Wallsend approaching Hunter Expwy (M15) and Newcastle Link Rd (A15), October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mine Subsidence Sign: Sign at Holmesville where the Pacific Mwy (M1) is affected by mine subsidence, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		George Booth Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the George Booth Dr (B89) interchange at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Killingworth approaching Palmers Rd, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Hunter Expressway & Newcastle Link Road: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Hunter Expwy (M15) and Newcastle Link Rd (A15) interchange at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Ryhope approaching Palmers Rd, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Hunter Expressway & Newcastle Link Road: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Hunter Expwy (M15) and Newcastle Link Rd (A15) interchange at West Wallsend, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Awaba Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Awaba (Palmers Rd) Interchange at Ryhope, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Seahampton, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Awaba Interchange: Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Awaba (Palmers Rd) Interchange at Ryhope, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Fold out services sign at Minmi, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Freemans Waterhole, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		End Freeway 2km: End freeway sign at Black Hill, October 2016. This style of sign is no longer actively installed. Image © Paul Rands
	Freemans Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at Freemans Dr, Freemans Waterhole, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		End Freeway 1km: End freeway sign at Black Hill, October 2016. This style of sign is no longer actively installed. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Black Hill, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Fold out services sign at Black Hill, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Freemans Drive: Pacific Mwy (M1) at Freemans Dr, Cooranbong, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		End Freeway: End freeway at Beresfield, October 2016. This style of sign is no longer actively installed. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Cooranbong approaching Mandalong Rd (B53), October 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Fold out services sign at Beresfield, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
			Flashing Warning Sign: Flashing warning sign approaching the roundabout with John Renshaw Dr (B68 and A1) and Weakleys Dr at Beresfield, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
			Advance Directional Sign: Advance directional sign approaching the roundabout with John Renshaw Dr (B68 and A1) and Weakleys Dr at Beresfield, October 2016. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of M1 (Pacific Mwy) between Morisset and Somersby Click here for the continuation of M1 (John Weakleys Dr, New England Hwy & Pacific Hwy) between Karuah and Beresfield

1 Roads & Maritime Services
2 Sam Laybutt (Ozroads)

Last updated: 14-Sep-2021 11:59

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