Work to upgrade the M1 Pacific Motorway is ramping up with the construction contract to upgrade the intersection of Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive awarded to Georgiou Group Pty Ltd.

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said the project was one of three on the M1 Pacific Motorway as part of an overall $391.6 million package, jointly funded by the Turnbull and Berejiklian Governments, to provide a safer and more reliable motorway for all motorists.

“This project will expand traffic capacity by replacing the existing roundabout with traffic lights and increasing the number of lanes,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This will improve traffic flow, travel times and safety for all road users on one of Australia’s busiest roads.”

New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said she was looking forward to the completion of the broader M1 Pacific Motorway upgrade.

“Work is set to start over coming months and expected to be complete in 2019, weather permitting, while the two other projects in the M1 Pacific Motorway upgrade package are also progressing well,” Mrs Pavey said.

“This section of road supports a huge volume of freight traffic, and we can expect freight movements to grow between the Central and North coasts in coming years.”

New South Wales Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, the Central Coast and the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the remaining projects – Kariong to Somersby and Tuggerah to Doyalson – were progressing well.

“In December 2017, the construction contract for the Kariong to Somersby upgrade was awarded with works set to begin early in 2018, while work is getting underway on a third northbound lane as part of the Tuggerah to Doyalson upgrade, which is due for completion in 2020,” Mr MacDonald said.

“More than 70,000 motorists use the M1 Pacific Motorway each day, including 7,000 freight vehicles, and it’s great to see further progress on this key upgrade for the New South Wales economy.”