New England Highway, Hexham Bridge and Tarro: Transport for NSW data reveals 19 crashes were recorded in 2021

In April there were two accidents in just one day, and Transport for NSW 2021 data reveals there have been 19 crashes on the four kilometre stretch between the Hexham Bridge and John Renshaw Drive, injuring 22 people.

Of those crashes, more than half were caused by a car being rear-ended, while speeding accounted for two.

Ashlea Jackson lived at Western Avenue at Tarro for 10 years and said it's "utter chaos".

"The overpass coming from the M1 and merging across there, sometimes you have people trying to go from the far lane to the turning lane into Tarro there which is crossing four lanes - it's so dangerous," she said.

"Every time there is a major accident it takes my husband an hour and 40 minutes to two hours to get to work on a normal 40 minute trip. There is at least one accident along that stretch almost daily, sometimes minor sometimes major.

"It holds everyone up, there is just no way around without huge delays."

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A solution is still at least six years away, after the state and federal governments announced they will build the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, one of the Hunter's biggest infrastructure projects.

The 15-kilometre extension includes a four-lane divided motorway with two lanes in each direction and new interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace.

It's expected to improve the connection between Newcastle and the New England Highway, M1 and Pacific Highway for the 50,000 drivers who use the road daily.

But even with the extension on the cards - residents are concerned more needs to be done.

Ms Jackson said the overpass needs fixing and the way traffic enters the New England Highway needs to be made safer by adding a third lane at Hexham heading to Heatherbrae to keep other lanes clear for Newcastle.

"A lot of it is impatient drivers that cause problems, but I do believe the roads could be made a little better there," she said.

"It is quite dangerous especially merging off the overpass.

"It isn't just holiday times, that of course is a lot worse but there is congestion there daily then adding accidents makes it utter chaos."

Thornton resident Andrew Prior has used the road to get to work for the last 30 years, and said it was a bad design to start with.

"I know when it's likely to be bad so I travel through Beresfield and come out at Tarro, just before the bridge," he said.

"You do about 40 kilometres per hour until you get past the Hexham Bridge, then the right lane gets congested with people trying to jump the queue and get over at the last minute."

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the extension will improve safety and connectivity by taking up to 25,000 vehicles a day out of key points.

"This free-flowing traffic will bypass five sets of traffic lights, reducing the potential for rear-end or congestion-related crashes," she said.

"We can all help each other get home safely by keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front, following the advisory speed signs, and driving to the weather and road conditions."

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said residents are frustrated, with a number of accidents where the traffic merges from three lanes to two at peak hour.

"For commuters it really slows down the traffic because there is a bulk from Beresfield and the Hunter going to work in town or at Wallsend," she said.

"We know the Raymond Terrace extension when it's built will really help, but in the meantime we hope they look at this carefully and expedite it."

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