Pacific Highway improvements at Hexham
(Hexham Straight Widening)
The Australian Government and the NSW Government are investing in the upgrade and development of the section of the Pacific Highway (Maitland Road) known as Hexham Straight between Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge.
Heavy traffic expected on the Pacific Highway at Hexham across Easter and Anzac Day long weekends
Motorists travelling on the Pacific Motorway through Hexham should plan their trip and allow extra travel time during the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, with high traffic volumes and delays expected.
The busiest day northbound is predicted to be Thursday 17 April, with expected delays from 20 to 30 minutes. The busiest days southbound are predicted to be Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 April, with expected delays up to 45 minutes.
With motorists expected to head home from holidays before the start of the school term, there will be a second wave of return traffic during the last weekend of the school holidays, commencing Friday 25 April. The busiest day southbound will be Sunday 27 April with expected delays up to 25 minutes.
For more details about predicted delays at Hexham and other known holiday traffic pinch points, see the NSW Holiday and Journey planning website.
Upcoming changed access arrangements to Brancourts Dairy
Motorists and Freight operators are advised of the permanent closure of the dedicated righthand turning lane into Brancourts Dairy from Tuesday, 29 April.
The changes will be implemented during night work between 7pm and 5am on Monday 28 April, weather permitting.
After the changes, access to Brancourts Dairy northbound will be maintained as left in and left out only. Access for southbound traffic will be via the existing signalised intersection at Hexham Bridge.
For more information, view the project notification for this work in 'Download and Notifications'.
We thank you for your patience while this work is carried out.
Project Updates
Transport for NSW will be completing night work in April 2025. Work will include removal and building new road pavements, including asphalting, line-marking and median island work and traffic changes; stormwater and pavement investigations; traffic signal work and road crossings; utility adjustments and investigations, and bridge works at Ironbark Creek Bridge.
Out of hours work will take place from Tuesday 1 April to Wednesday 30 April between 7pm and 7am from Sunday to Thursday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday weather permitting. Normal working hours are between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. The project team will be on break for the Easter period from Thursday 17 April and will resume work on Tuesday 22 April 2025. Standby crews will be available during this time and site security, including surveillance cameras, will be in place.
Lane and shoulder closures with a 40km/h speed reduction will be in place during some night work. Contra-flow arrangements will be in place during asphalt works. Motorists are advised to follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers, use alternative routes where possible or allow up to 15 minutes extra travel time.
From Thursday 10 April, the right-hand turn lane into the U-turn facility north of Hexham Station will be permanently closed when travelling inbound on Maitland Road. Freight travelling inbound will continue travelling 3km south to the Sparke Street U-turn facility or alternatively turn left into Old Maitland Road to use the Old Punt Road U-turn facility to travel outbound on Maitland Road. Over Size and/or Over Mass loads required to contraflow over the Northbound Hexham Bridge will be able to U-turn at the intersection of Maitland Road and Old Maitland Road under police escort.
Operators of Over Size or Over Mass vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2 metres or with overall width wider than 4.5 metres are advised to contact the project team at least one day ahead of movement on 1800 515 141. Significant delays could occur if failure to contact. OSOM operators are advised the project operates on UHF channel 45.
Vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
If you want more information about upcoming work, find the latest project update at the top of the page in Download documents.
