$1 Billion M1 Motoway upgrade Gold Coast

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Local motorists have been given their first look at the much-anticipated $1 billion M1 upgrade from Varsity Lakes to Tugun.

The upgrade will feature the region’s first ever “Diverging Diamond Interchange”, as well as more lanes for the 10km stretch, plus upgrades to the Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera and Palm Beach exits.

It will be a huge relief for motorists making the daily trek on the notoriously busy stretch, with the major upgrade promising to cut travel times.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says the works are part of the Queensland Government’s jointly-funded $2.3 billion commitment to building a better M1.

“Close to 150,000 Queenslanders are seeing progress on the M1 every day,” Mr Bailey said.

“The Queensland Government is building a better M1, and we’re gearing up for the future with our plans for the Coomera Connector and a future rail corridor as part of this $1 billion upgrade.”

It’s expected the upgrade will create more than 800 jobs for the Gold Coast and be five times the size of the current M1 upgrade at Mudgeeraba.

“With the $197 million M1 upgrade from Mudgeeraba on the home stretch, this an opportunity for locals to find out how this $1 billion project will get them home sooner,” Minister Bailey said.

Construction is expected to begin mid next year, once the widening works from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes have been completed.

The upgrade will also include:

• Widening the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek bridges
• Building a new service road bridge over Tallebudgera Creek connecting a new western service road (one lane each way) between Palm Beach (Exit 92) and Tallebudgera (Exit 89)
• Improving active transport connectivity by installing dedicated and shared pedestrian and bike paths
• Installing Smart Motorway technologies between Varsity Lakes (Exit 85) and Tugun (Exit 95), and retrofitting these technologies between Nerang and Mudgeeraba
• Preserving the corridor for a future rail extension south of Varsity Lakes.

Source: Gold Coast, mygc.com.au by Shanee Dobeson