The state and federal governments reiterated yesterday  a commitment of $405million each to the $3-billion NorthConnex project, with twin tunnels to link the M1 and M2 motorways.

Construction of the nine-kilometre tunnels will start next year and the road link is scheduled to be open to motorists by 2019.

The state and federal governments say NorthConnex will ease traffic congestion along Pennant Hills Road and allow travellers to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights.

It is also tipped to pull more than 5000 trucks a day off the road.

‘‘Generations of people said they were going to build it but they haven’t,’’ NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said the link would be  quicker  for trips to the Central Coast, the Hunter and central Sydney.

‘‘A truck, for instance, leaving the Port of Newcastle [could] go all the way to Melbourne without going through a set of traffic lights,’’ he said.

Hunter NRMA director Kyle Loades said the NRMA nominated the M1 to M2 project as one of the critical projects in its federal election campaign. 

‘‘It significantly reduces congestion in Sydney’s north-west ensuring people can get through more efficiently when heading in and out of Sydney,’’ Mr Loades said. 

‘‘For Hunter motorists who travel to Sydney city, western Sydney, the south coast, Canberra or Melbourne, you will now travel with less time, less stress and will be safer.’’

A $6.11 toll for cars and $18.32 for trucks will contribute to the project costs.

Shadow infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese said Labor and the O’Farrell government agreed in 2013 to put $405million each on the table for NorthConnex.

Mr Albanese said Prime Minister Tony Abbott hadn’t contributed anything to the project.

‘‘Not a new dollar, not a new metre of road, no involvement whatsoever,’’ he said. 

Lend Lease and Bouygues are the preferred tenderers.