Aurecon Australia has received a contract to design the upgrade of the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection at Beresfield in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The contract involves replacement of the existing two lane roundabout at Beresfield with traffic lights to improve traffic flow, travel times and safety for motorists.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Warren Truss said: "The intersection upgrade at the northern end of the M1 motorway is one of three projects in the Australian and NSW Governments’ jointly funded A$392m M1 Productivity Package.

"The project will help reduce travel times between Newcastle and Sydney, improve road freight efficiency and cater for the expected growth of freight traffic."

"The project will help reduce travel times between Newcastle and Sydney, improve road freight efficiency and cater for the expected growth of freight traffic.

"It means freight operators can get goods to local and international markets efficiently, ultimately improving our competitiveness as a major exporting nation."

The existing two-lane roundabout is said to be used by approximately 4,000 vehicles an hour during the weekday peak, and is unable to effectively cater for the current level of demand.

The upgrade is expected to enable the road to cater for the increasing demand.

New South Wales Hunter and Central Coast parliamentary secretary Scot MacDonald said: "The upgrade will also complement future upgrades across the road network, including the proposed extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace to improve safety and travel times."

Subject to planning approval, the intersection upgrade is scheduled to be completed by 2019.

The Australian and NSW Governments have each committed A$195.8m towards the M1 Productivity Package, which also covers upgrades to the motorway between the Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges and between the Kariong and Somersby interchanges.