Construction begins on new Stapley Drive bridge on QLD M1 Pacific Motorway

Works are now underway on Stage 1 of a new higher and wider Stapley Drive bridge over the M1 Pacific Motorway at Varsity Lakes. This is part of the $197.5 million upgrade on the M1 Pacific Motorway from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes.

According to Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher, the new Stapley Drive bridge is going to be built in stages.

“A new bridge is being built next to the existing structure and will allow traffic to continue to travel on the existing Stapley Drive overpass.

“Once this work is complete, we will switch traffic from the old overpass to this new bridge later this year,” Mr Fletcher said.

The Minister added that the old Stapley Drive overpass is going to be demolished to give way to Stage 2 of the new bridge. The second stage of the Stapley Drive bridge will be connected to the completed Stage 1, providing a higher and wider bridge that will meet current design standards and future traffic volumes.

The new Stapley Drive bridge is expected to be fully open to traffic by mid-2019.

“This is great news for people on the Gold Coast, and while there will be short term pain due to construction, it really is a case of long term gain for motorists.

“There will be some lane closures with local detours while the bridge decks are installed, and we’d like to thank everyone in advance for their patience as we improve the M1 on the Gold Coast,” Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

Minister Bailey also said that this project will create jobs for locals as well as give a boost to the local economy.

Stages 1 and 2 of the Stapley Drive bridge project (source: Department of Transport and main Roads)

Member for McPherson Karen Andrews said that the upgrade on the M1 between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes has been progressing well since works commenced earlier this year.

“Work has been moving ahead on earthworks and clearing, fencing and surveying the site - this is great news for motorists who have waited years for these vital upgrades,” Mrs Andrews said.

Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said that work on the new Stapley Drive bridge is complex, and that the new bridge is going to be built in stages to reduce impacts on the local community and to keep the existing overpass open to traffic.

Stage 1 of the project will include installing bridge decks that weigh 26.8 tonnes each - with dimensions of 24.46 metres long, 900 mm deep and 596 mm wide.

“Crews will also be pouring concrete slabs, building parapets, installing anti-throw screens and laying pavement.

“While 172 deck units will be precast off-site for this work, the job will require about 630 cubic metres of concrete to be poured on site over the entire bridge deck,” Ms Scanlon said.

For this project, works are going to be carried out at night to ensure safety and minimise traffic disruption.

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Source: Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities; Queensland Government (1, 2); The Daily Telegraph