$1.03bn M1 Varsity Lakes-Tugun upgrade in QLD marks new key milestone

Queensland’s $1.03 billion M1 Pacific Motorway - Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade reaches another key milestone prior to construction - which is expected to commence in mid-2020 - with the completion of designs for two of the work packages.

Gold Coasters will be able to get a first look at the designs for the Burleigh to Palm Beach and the Palm Beach to Tugun sections of the M1 project.

This billion dollar project will be delivered through a series of work packages, namely Package A from Varsity Lakes to Burleigh; Package B from Burleigh to Palm Beach; Package C from Palm Beach to Tugun; and Package D that includes the delivery of smart motorway technologies between Nerang and Mudgeeraba.

“The Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade will be a game-changer for the southern Gold Coast, the national freight network, and the tourism industry that relies so heavily on the M1.

“It will provide much-needed relief for residents and commuters and support hundreds of local construction jobs,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Works on the Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade will include:

• Widening 10 kilometres of the M1 from two to a minimum of three lanes in both directions between Varsity Lakes (Exit 85) and Tugun (Exit 95), with some areas widened to five lanes and include improvements to the road alignment
• Extending all entry and exit ramps at interchanges, and significant improvements to Burleigh Heads (Exit 87), Tallebudgera (Exit 89) and Palm Beach (Exit 92)
• Widening the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek bridges
• Construction of a new two-way western service road between Tallebudgera (Exit 89) and Palm Beach (Exit 92) and a new bridge over Tallebudgera Creek connecting the new western service road
• Installation of smart motorway technologies to improve travel time between Nerang and Tugun
• Preserving the corridor for a possible future rail extension south of Varsity Lakes
• Installing bike and pedestrian paths to improve active transport connectivity

In addition, a fauna underpass is going to be built under the M1 to connect the Burleigh to Springbrook bioregional wildlife corridor.

“Work on the M1 between Burleigh and Palm Beach will include a 55-m long fauna underpass running beneath the M1 to connect the Burleigh to Springbrook bioregional wildlife corridor.

“It’s a delicate balance between growth and sustainability, so we’ve sought input from key environmental groups to develop a design for this upgrade that helps achieve that balance,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

Last month, crucial funding from the Federal and Queensland Governments has been secured to get works underway on the congestion-busting upgrade on the M1. You can read more about it here.

“Work is nearing completion on the Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes section of the motorway.

“Early works have already started on this much larger upgrade between Varsity Lakes and Tugun, and Gold Coasters will start to see signs of major construction starting later this year,” Mr Bailey said.

Approximately 850 jobs are expected to be supported by the M1 Pacific Motorway - Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade.

With the release of the designs for Package B and Package C, community info sessions will also be held at multiple locations. For more information about the community info sessions, you can visit the project website here.

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Source: Queensland Government; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads