The first major contract has been awarded for the construction of Coomera Connector Stage 1 North project, connecting Coomera to Helensvale on the Gold Coast.
Acciona Construction Australia and Georgiou Group Joint Venture, with WSP and BG&E as the designers, will undertake enabling works and finalise the design for the project, providing an alternative route for the busy M1 motorway.
The Coomera Connector, sometimes referred to as the ‘Second M1’, is a future state-controlled north-south road corridor between Loganholme and Nerang, east of the Pacific Motorway (M1) and the heavy train line.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said delivering the second M1 was a priority for the Queensland Government.
“Thousands of Gold Coasters use the M1 each and every day,” the Premier said.
“Building the second M1 is incredibly important when it comes to easing congestion and getting people home sooner.
“Supporting job-creating infrastructure is at the core of our Economic Recovery Plan for Queensland.”
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said the contract award was a milestone in the delivery of this significant project.
“The Coomera Connector is a significant project that will provide long-term benefits to commuters across South East Queensland by providing an alternative north-south route that will help ease congestion on the M1,” Minister Fletcher said.
The 16-kilometre Stage 1 section of the Coomera Connector, between Coomera and Nerang, has been identified as the priority section to be built first, with the project being delivered in three construction packages:
- Stage 1 North: Shipper drive, Coomera to Helensvale Road, Helensvale – early works construction started with site investigations in 2021 and construction to start mid-2022. Additional early works agreement awarded in November 2021 to finalise the design, establish site compounds and continue service utility investigations.
- Stage 1 Central: Helensvale Road, Helensvale to Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar – early works site investigations started in mid-2021 and construction timing to be confirmed.
- Stage 1 South: Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar to Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang – early works site investigations and construction timing are to be confirmed.
Future stages of Coomera Connector will see the delivery of the remaining 29 kilometres between Loganholme and Coomera. This section is currently in the planning stage.
Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the early contractor involvement model used for Stage 1 North would also be used for Stage 1 Central, from Helensvale Road to the Smith Street Motorway.
“This delivery model results in better value for money, a focus on partnership and collaboration, and opportunities for innovation,” Ms Scanlon said.
“It enables bidding across different tiered contractors and further supports local market development, which creates long-term job opportunities for Gold Coast businesses.
“Not only is this helping South East Queensland’s economic recovery from COVID-19, but we are building legacy infrastructure to support the growth of the South East.
“Consultation can now also ramp up with people immediately next to the Stage 1 North corridor as the design becomes more detailed.”
Requests for proposals on the Stage 1 Central package will be available to industry before the end of the year.
For more information on the project, visit here.
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