Coomera Connector Stage 1 is progressing well through construction

Construction on the Coomera Connector – Queensland’s second M1 – is progressing well as it sees the arrival of a 48-metre-long piling barge named Maeve Anne on the Coomera River work site. 

The unique piece of equipment made its journey from the docks at Murrarie in Brisbane to its new home on the Coomera River. The Maeve Anne will assist in the construction of the almost one-kilometre-long Coomera River bridge as part of Stage 1 North of the Coomera Connector project. 

“Every milestone in the Coomera Connector’s construction puts us a step forward in getting tourists and Gold Coast locals home sooner and safer. 

“The Coomera Connector ties in with the M1, the new Hope Island train station and the broader active transport network – catering for the rapid growth this region is seeing. 

“Queensland’s Big Transport Build is underpinned by transformational infrastructure like the Coomera Connector, which will change the way people travel to and from the Gold Coast,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

The barge is going to be utilised to build a temporary jetty on the northern banks of the river where material and equipment will be stored. The Maeve Anne will also help move supplies and people out onto the Coomera River. 

The installation of the jetty will enable works to begin to construct 20 bridge marine piles, which will take approximately six months to complete. 

The Maeve Anne will then join her sister barge, the Suzanne, in the construction of the Coomera River bridge substructure as well as the installation of bridge girders. 

A 250-tonne crane along with piling rigs that include vibratory (vibro) hammers and a fly drill are going to be equipped on the Maeve Anne and the barge will have a crew of about eight specialist marine construction workers on board. 

On the other hand, the Suzanne is going to be equipped with a 500-tonne crawler crane and will have its own specialist crew as well. 

“The Coomera Connector is a game-changer for South-East Queenslanders – it means less time stuck in traffic and more time spent with loved ones enjoying Queensland’s great lifestyle. 

“We know congestion is a significant issue for the region and frustrating for motorists, which is why we’re getting on with delivering this critical piece of infrastructure. 

“Works have ramped up over the past couple of months since construction started and it is wonderful to see the new motorway construction well underway. 

“The delivery of this vital piece of infrastructure is estimated to support an average of 1,000 direct jobs over the life of the project,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

Local mariners will start noticing some changes to the condition on the Coomera River around the marine construction site, including a temporary navigation channel and reduced speed limits. The marine work area will be clearly marked with buoys to ensure the safety of the project team as well as river users. 

Stage 1 North map (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

The $2.16 billion Coomera Connector Stage 1 between Coomera and Nerang is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments on a 50:50 basis. 

The approximately 16-kilometre Stage 1 is going to be built in three stages: 

• 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 

“The $2.16 billion Coomera Connector is the single largest road project in our State’s history and it is fantastic to see works coming along. 

“We know that the population across the city has exploded, in fact the Northern suburbs is one of the fastest growing region in the country. 

“This is our plan to manage the population growth with bigger and better roads, to protect the coastal lifestyle that we all love,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

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

Major construction on Stage 1 North commenced earlier this year and the Coomera Connector Stage 1 is going to progressively open to traffic from late 2025. 

Detailed design for Stage 1 Central and Stage 1 South are underway as well as planning for future stages of the Coomera Connector. 

Stage 1 North is being delivered by the Acciona Georgiou Joint Venture (AGJV).

Overall, the Coomera Connector will: 

• Relieve pressure on the M1 by providing an alternative route for local traffic and additional crossings of the Logan, Albert, Coomera and Nerang rivers 
• Provide improved connections and accessibility to more transport options on the northern Gold Coast 
• Improve travel time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by reducing the number of local trips on the M1 
• Improve safety on the M1 by reducing congestion and potential queuing at interchanges 
• Provide more reliable travel times between Brisbane and the Gold Coast 

“Anyone travelling to or from the Gold Coast knows how desperately the Second M1 is needed and why the piling barge will be a welcome sight. 

“From major investments in light rail and M1 upgrades to on-demand transport trials and delivery of the Coomera Connector, it’s the Palaszczuk Government building the infrastructure our city needs. 

“With our city’s population expected to reach close to 800,000 in the next 10 years, we’re investing more than $5 billion in road and rail projects across our city,” QLD Minister and Gold Coast MP Meaghan Scanlon said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads (1, 2); Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government