Abigroup Contractors will design and construct the western section of the expressway.

The 27-kilometre, four-lane divided highway will be built between Kurri Kurri and Branxton.

Work will include the construction of 22 bridges and four interchanges, about three million cubic metres of earthworks and the treatment of two mine subsidence areas.

It is the second part of the $1.7billion, 40-kilometre Hunter Expressway.

It will link the F3 freeway at Seahampton to the New England Highway, west of Branxton.

For more information, see tomorrow's article in The Newcastle Herald.