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) - Somersby to Morisset

Statistics:

Route Numbering:

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 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 (now 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:

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

Somersby to Morisset   Morisset to Somersby
Preview: Description:   Preview: Description:
Services Sign:
AD services sign at Ourimbah approaching Pacific Hwy interchange, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Freemans Drive:
Pacific Mwy (M1) crosses Freemans Dr at Morisset, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Ourimbah approaching Pacific Hwy interchange, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Mandalong Rd (B53) at Morisset, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Services Sign:
AD services sign at Ourimbah approaching Pacific Hwy interchange, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Morisset Interchange:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Morisset Interchange (Mandalong Rd (B53)), October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Pacific Highway:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Pacific Hwy interchange at Ourimbah, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Mandalong Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Mandalong Rd (B53) interchange at Morisset, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the Pacific Hwy interchange at Ourimbah, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Mandalong Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Mandalong Rd (B53) interchange at Morisset, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Palmdale approaching Wyong Rd (B74), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Morisset, December 2013.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Kangy Angy, December 2013.

Image © Michael Greenslade

  Hue Hue Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it passes under Hue Hue Rd at Wyee, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Palmdale approaching Wyong Rd (B74), December 2013.

Image © Michael Greenslade

  Tourism Reassurance Directional Sign:
Tourism-based distance sign at Wyee, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Wyong Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Wyong Rd (B74) interchange at Mardi, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Bushells Ridge Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it passes under Bushells Ridge Rd at Bushells Ridge, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Mardi, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Motorway Link:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it passes under Motorway Link (A43) at Kiar, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Services Sign:
Services sign at Alison for the Service Centre, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Kiar approaching Sparks Rd (B70), October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Alison approaching Sparks Rd (B70), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Jilliby approaching Sparks Rd (B70), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Jilliby approaching Sparks Rd (B70), October 2016. Click here for a photo by of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Warnervale Interchange:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Warnervale (Sparks Rd (B70)) interchange at Jilliby, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Sparks Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Sparks Rd (B70) interchange at Jillby, October 2016. Click here for a photo by of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Sparks Road Interchange:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Sparks Rd (B70) at Jilliby, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Jilliby for the interchange with Doyalson Link Rd (A43), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Warnervale Interchange:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Warnervale (Sparks Rd (B70)) interchange at Jilliby, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Jilliby for the interchange with Doyalson Link Rd (A43), December 2013.

Image © Michael Greenslade

  Tow Away Zone:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it enters the tow away zone at Jilliby, after the Warnervale interchange, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplmental AD sign at Jilliby for the interchange with Doyalson Link Rd (A43), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Services Sign:
Services AD sign approaching the Service Centre, Jilliby, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Doyalson Link Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Doyalson Link Rd (A43) at Jilliby, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Distance Sign:
RD sign at Jilliby, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

RD Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Kiar, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Services Sign:
Services AD sign approaching the Service Centre, Jilliby, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Wyee approaching Mandalong Rd (B53), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Service Centre Entrance:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the service centre interchange at Jilliby, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Mandalong approaching Mandalong Rd (B53), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  St Johns Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it crosses St Johns Rd via Steve Eliot Bridge near the service centre at Jilliby, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Mandalong Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Mandalong Rd (B53) interchange at Mandalong, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Wyong River:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it crosses Wyong River at Alison, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Mandalong on the off ramp to Mandalong Rd (B53), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Wyong approaching Wyong Rd (B74), October 2016. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Mandalong Road:
Intersection directional sign assembly on the off ramp to Mandalong Rd (B53) at Mandalong, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Mardi approaching Wyong Rd (B74), October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

      Tuggerah Interchange:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Tuggerah (Wyong Rd (B74)) Interchange at Mardi, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

      Wyong Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Wyong Rd (B74) interchange at Mardi, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

      Tuggerah Interchange:
Pacific Mwy (M1) at the Tuggerah (Wyong Rd (B74)) Interchange at Tuggerah, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Kangy Angy, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Old Tuggerah Road:
Pacific Mwy (M1) as it crosses Old Tuggerah Rd at Kangy Angy, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Kangy Angy approaching Pacific Hwy, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Services Sign:
AD sign for Ourimbah Rest Area, Kangy Angy, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Ourimbah approaching Pacific Hwy, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Ourimbah approaching Pacific Hwy, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Ourimbah approaching Pacific Hwy, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

      Services Sign:
AD sign for Ourimbah Rest Area, Kangy Angy, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Ourimbah, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign near Dog Trap Rd at Ourimbah for Peats Ridge Rd interchange, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Click here for the continuation of M1 (Pacific Motorway) between Somersby and Wahroonga
Click here for the continuation of M1 (Pacific Motorway) between Beresfield and Morisset

1 Roads & Maritime Services.
2 Sam Laybutt (Ozroads).

Last updated: 22-Dec-2019 12:14

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