Sixty-five per cent fewer heavy vehicles and 45 per cent fewer light vehicles have travelled on the New England Highway since the Hunter Expressway opened.
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Roads and Maritime Services released figures yesterday ahead of| the M15’s one month anniversary next week.
The figures show that about 25,000 vehicles are using the expressway each weekday and about 20,000 travel on the new road on Saturdays and Sundays.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said motorists had embraced the Hunter Expressway since it opened on March 22.
“These figures are very encouraging and show motorists have opted for quicker and more convenient journeys,” Mr Truss said.
“Our data also shows less traffic [is] now using the New England Highway.
“This is welcome news for motorists whose needs are clearly being met by the new expressway.”
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads Ray Williams said fewer vehicles on the highway meant traffic flow had improved.
He said this would benefit residents, travellers and the freight industry.
“With the Easter break upon us, the expressway will provide holiday travellers and locals with safer traffic flow and improved travel times through the Hunter region,” he said.
The M15 was designed to accommodate long-term development and growth in the region in the coming decades.
The project was jointly funded by the federal government which invested $1.5 billion and the NSW government, which contributed up to $200 million.
