Mr Fitzgibbon spent yesterday morning inspecting pre-construction work on the expressway before meeting apprentices at PWG King and Sons Engineering to discuss the Federal Government's Apprentice Kickstart program.

Following the inspection, Mr Fitzgibbon said the start of the Seahampton to Branxton link road was a first step in the right direction for the region.

"This is a great step forward and for me, the result of a 20-year fight to get something done," he said.

"For 12 years of Liberal leadership there was nothing being done to ease congestion here, and now something is finally being done for these communities."

Last year the $1 million Lower Hunter Transport Needs Study recommended the Hunter Expressway be constructed to ease congestion on the New England Highway, which would be increased by the Huntlee development.

Mr Fitzgibbon has been a vocal supporter of an expressway since his days as a Cessnock City councillor in the 1980s and 1990s.

The expressway is expected to open at the end of 2013 and will ease congestion in the Hunter as well as providing jobs during its construction, Mr Fitzgibbon said.