Construction of QLD Coomera Connector Stage 1 to be prioritised

The Queensland Government will be prioritising the construction of the Coomera Connector - dubbed as the "second M1" - to help relieve congestion from the M1 as well as support the growing communities in northern Gold Coast.

Project consultation for the Coomera Connector is set to commence next month.

“Traffic counts done earlier this year showed 210,000 vehicles travel on the M1 between Coomera and Nerang every day.

“Current TMR estimates tell us constructing the southern section as stage one would take up to 60,000 vehicles a day off the M1 at the Coomera River,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Over the coming months, the proposed Stage 1 route is going to be busy with a number of pre-construction activities.

The southern section of the Coomera Connector is from Nerang Broadbeach Road at Nerang to Foxwell Road at Coomera.

“TMR staff will start talking with residents next month, with flora and fauna studies and detailed plans being drawn up.

“We’re on track to start work on the business case in the coming months too,” the Premier added.

The Coomera Connector is a proposed 45-kilometre north-south corridor that will run between Loganholme and Nerang. The proposed corridor is set to have up to six traffic lanes with facilities for public transport and pedestrian and cycling paths.

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

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that prioritising the Gold Coast section of the project means that focus will “come off” the northern section between Loganholme and Coomera.

“Staging the works will give the project team more time to investigate potential alternative routes for the northern section of the Coomera Connector between Loganholme and Coomera.

“TMR will also work with the community, the Queensland Government’s Koala Advisory Council, other volunteer groups and government environmental agencies to develop a Coomera Connector environmental management plan,” Mr Bailey said.

Once the Coomera Connector is completed, it will be providing more alternative routes for local traffic as well as additional crossings at the Logan, Coomera and Nerang Rivers. The “second M1” will also help improve connections and accessibility to transport options on the northern Gold Coast.

Other benefits of the Coomera Connector include reduced travel time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and increased safety on the M1.

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Source: Queensland Government; Department of Transport and Main Roads; myGC.com.au