Project snapshot
Contractors: The four-lane Hunter Expressway is being constructed under two contracts. The eastern section (F3 Freeway to Kurri Kurri) is being built under an alliance contract with Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority), Thiess Pty Ltd, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Hyder Consulting, and the western section (Kurri Kurri to Branxton) under a design and construct contract with Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd
Workers on site: Currently about 800 staff employed directly on the project and more than 400 subcontractors.
Start date of major construction: August 2010 for the eastern section and April 2011 for the western section.
Expected completion date: The 40 kilometre Hunter Expressway is scheduled to be open to traffic at the end of 2013, weather permitting. The entire project will be completed and then opened to traffic at the same time.
Project value: The Australian Government is funding $1.5 billion and the NSW Government up to $200 million to complete the project.
What's happening
Eastern Section: F3 to Kurri Kurri
The Hunter Expressway Alliance started construction on this 13 kilometre section of the project in August 2010.
The eastern section includes two grade-separated interchanges - at the F3 Freeway and at Buchanan, as well as overbridges at Seahampton Road and Averys Lane. Rest areas for light and heavy vehicles will be built on both sides of the expressway at Buchanan.
Three high bridges (or viaducts) will span the steep gullies through the Sugarloaf Range and are located 1.4 to 2.7 kilometres west of the F3 Freeway. The viaducts have a total length of 787 metres and are up to 47 metres in height above the gully floors. This website has a video that explains how the high bridges will be built and it is available on the videos and animations page.
Western section:
Abigroup started construction on the 27 kilometre western section of the project in April 2011.
In the western section of the project, construction is progressing well and significant work is visible to passing motorists.
The western section includes four grade-separated interchanges – at Kurri Kurri, Loxford, Allandale and Branxton. It also includes road bridge crossings at McLeod Road at Loxford, Old Maitland Road at Sawyers Gully, Camp Road at Allandale and Tuckers Lane at Greta.
Bridge construction is continuing at various locations between Kurri Kurri and Branxton. Major earthworks are progressing well, and by January 2012 more than 1.6 million cubic metres of soil had been moved. Abigroup has approximately 3 million cubic metres of earthworks as part of its construction.
To view the latest construction progress, click here>>
Further information
For more information, enquiries or to make a complaint please phone:
