$1.53bn QLD Coomera Connector nears beginning of construction

Construction on Queensland's Second M1 – known as the Coomera Connector – will soon commence following the confirmation of the preferred route for the northern section of the corridor. 

The proposed route will cross Albert River east of Eagleby then connect to the M1 as well as Logan Motorway at Loganholme. 

The Queensland Government has secured $1.5 billion in funding to get works underway on Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector – between Nerang and Coomera. 

“The Coomera Connector is a major project in our $50 billion infrastructure guarantee to build better roads and support new jobs for Queenslanders. 

“It will become a key route for residents making local trips without having to get on the M1,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

The confirmed route was compared to six other alternative routes by independent traffic planners as well as environmental specialists and was found out to be the most suitable alignment for the new corridor. 

“Key considerations for independent specialists were the impacts on communities, impacts on the environment, the proposed cost, and the ability to reduce M1 congestion. 

“The conclusion from their assessment was that the current Coomera Connector alignment had the least number of impacts on properties and homes and did not impact on the RAMSAR wetlands located north of the Logan River,” Minister Bailey said. 

Coomera Connector Stage 1 alignment (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

Minister Bailey added that the local community will be closely involved in the planning of the project. 

Over the next 18 months, determining the staging plan for work between Loganholme and Coomera will be a key focus for the project team. 

“When planning major roads, we always seek to design and construct them in an environmentally sensitive manner, in consultation with the local community,” Minister Bailey said. 

Several community information sessions are going to be held in the coming weeks where details from the independent Coomera Connector route assessments will be shared. 

“We'll hold at least four community information sessions at Beenleigh, Cornubia, Carbrook and Eagleby, as well as letterbox the local community to explain the findings of the independent route assessment,” Minister Bailey added. 

The 45-kilometre Coomera Connector is going to be a north-south road corridor between Loganholme and Nerang, and it will serve as an alternative route to the M1 for the growing population in the northern Gold Coast region as well as adjacent Logan areas. 

To date, approximately $1.53 billion has been committed by the Queensland and Australian Governments to deliver the first stage of Coomera Connector. 

Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector – Coomera to Nerang is going to be delivered in 3 construction packages, namely: 

• Stage 1 North: Shipper Drive, Coomera to Helensvale Road, Helensvale 
• Stage 1 Central: Helensvale Road, Helensvale to Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar 
• Stage 1 South: Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar to Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang 

Construction on Stage 1 North will commence by mid-2021 with the entire Coomera Connector Stage 1 to progressively open to traffic from late 2024. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Infrastructure Magazine