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First section now open on Gold Coast’s $1B M1 upgrade

First section now open on Gold Coast’s $1B M1 upgrade
First section now open on Gold Coast’s $1B M1 upgrade
Image courtesy of the Queensland Government.

The first section of the Pacific Motorway between Varsity Lakes and Burleigh is now open, following the completion of the first package of works for the $1 billion Gold Coast M1 upgrade.

When complete, the $1 billion package will widen 10 kilometres of the M1, upgrade interchanges, build better service roads and create active transport connections between Varsity Lakes and Tugun.

The project will also widen the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek bridges and preserving the corridor for a possible future rail extension south of Varsity Lakes.

The works on the first section included extending and relocating the Exit 85 northbound off-ramp by 250 metres, adding a fourth northbound lane between Reedy Creek (Exit 85) and Burleigh (Exit 87), and installing smart motorways technologies to help reduce ‘stop-start’ travel.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this was a major milestone for the project.

“The M1 is Queensland’s busiest road, seeing more than 210,000 vehicles regularly driving it on its busiest days,” Palaszczuk said.

When widening the M1, the concrete surface was also replaced with stone mastic asphalt for a quieter and more easily maintained surface.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said opening the first stage of the project will increase capacity and improving safety on the M1 between Varsity Lakes and Tugun.

“The opening of three lanes between Varsity Lakes and Burleigh and the fully functioning diverging diamond interchange is the start of a transformation of the M1 for Southern Gold Coast communities,” King said.

The diverging diamond interchange opened to motorists four months ago. It is now fully operational and all permanent traffic signals switched on.

The Australian and Queensland governments have committed a total of $1 billion ($680 million Australian Government and $320 million Queensland Government) to plan and build the Pacific Motorway (M1) Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade.

Motorway widening across the 10-km route is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

 


 

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