The NSW government has released an environmental impact statement for the M1 Motorway extension between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace.
The massive 28-chapter document reveals how the 15-kilometre road will pass through area, and provides the first look at the 2.6-kilometre bridge that will be built over the Hunter River and its floodplain.
The extension, which has been planned for more than 15 years, is proposed to divert from the motorway at Black Hill and link with the Pacific Highway at Raymond Terrace, allowing motorists to bypass the congestion points of Hexham and Heatherbrae.
The government started meeting with the construction industry in June after tweaking the road's design late last year.
The federal government has committed $1.6 billion and the NSW government $400 million to deliver both the M1 to Raymond Terrace and nearby Hexham Straight upgrade.
The EIS will be on exhibition for 28 days until August 24.
Feedback can be provided online through the government's planning portal website.
The document's release comes two weeks after the government put plans for the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor on exhibition.
Part of the planned Fassifern to Hexham 30-kilometre rail line would straddle the extended M1.
More to come.
