Hunter Expressway

Recognised as a project of national importance by the Australian Government, the Hunter Expressway project represents an investment of $1.7 billion.

The project includes the construction of a new 40 km dual carriageway connecting the F3 Freeway to the New England Highway west of Branxton.

Comprising NSW Roads and Maritime Services, Thiess, WSP and Hyder Consulting, the Hunter Expressway Alliance was formed to design and build the 13 km eastern section of the Hunter Expressway from the Newcastle interchange on the F3 Freeway.

Our section of the four-lane expressway included interchanges located at the F3 Freeway and Buchanan, 840 m of viaduct including three bridges, bridges at many other locations and the treatment of extensive disused underground mine workings.

We provided environmental management as well as investigation, design and construction-phase services including geotechnical investigations, structural engineering, drainage and water quality management.

Part of our environmental management responsibilities included design activities and the preparation of pre-approval documents.

Key Achievements

Opened in March 2014, the Hunter Expressway now:

• Decreases driving times between Newcastle and Branxton by 25 minutes.
• Lightens traffic load on the New England Highway by removing up to 8,000 vehicles a day.
• Reduces – by about 40 per cent in the three years to 2016 – the number of heavy vehicles travelling through towns such as Maitland and Branxton.