The accident occurred at about 2am on Thursday, September 7 near Moorside Drive, Telegraph Point.

The man was flown to Newcastle by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter after being trapped for several hours.

Police, Ambulance NSW, Fire & Rescue, the State Emergency Service and Rural Fire Brigade were all called to the scene which closed the highway in both directions for more than four hours.

Northbound motorists were diverted to the Oxley Highway and New England Highway and southbound motorists to the Gwydir Highway and the New England Highway.

The seriously injured man sustained compound fractures to his arm and both legs and was trapped in the cab of his vehicle for some time before being released.

Another driver was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital with injuries.

The highway was re-opened to one lane of traffic only at 8am with the remainder of the day dedicated to a salvage operation involving a crane and tow truck.

By mid-afternoon Thursday, southbound traffic was still banked up 15 kilometres while northbound vehicles were queued for more than eight kilometres.

Maria River Road is experiencing higher traffic volumes.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has advised that this is causing congestion at the Settlement Point and Hibbard Ferry crossings. To help ease this congestion, both ferries will operate all day.

For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com