Design for vital intersection upgrade in Sunshine Coast QLD revealed

A planned upgrade to the Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection in the Sunshine Coast will soon begin construction following the completion of the project design. 

The interim upgrade aims to improve safety along this route while significant planning work gets underway on the broader Buderim Mooloolaba Interchange project. 

“We know the Sunshine Coast is growing rapidly, and we need to improve transport connections to keep people moving. 

“That’s why we are currently planning for the Buderim Mooloolaba Interchange project, to increase capacity at this key intersection. 

“In the meantime, we’re getting on with improving safety and efficiency at the existing interchange for the 20,000 drivers who use this road daily,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

The Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection upgrade will help get Queenslanders home sooner and safer, enabling them to spend more time with family and friends. 

The design for this intersection upgrade will reconfigure traffic lanes to increase road capacity and allow more vehicles to travel in both directions on the Mooloolaba Road bridge. 

“Drivers turning right to enter Sunshine Motorway southbound or to enter Sugar Road northbound will also benefit from the new configuration. 

“Additional dedicated, left-turn lanes will improve efficiency for vehicles turning from Sugar Road to Mooloolaba Road and from Mooloolaba Road to Sugar Road. 

“These congestion-busting features will help reduce travel times and make it safer for all road users,” Minister Bailey said. 

The project will widen both roads at particular spots to accommodate the additional lanes and, at the same time, road resurfacing will be carried out. 

Source: Queensland Government

The interim upgrade will include: 

• Extending right-turn lanes in both directions on the Mooloolaba Road overpass to increase storage capacity 
• Providing 2 dedicated left-turn lanes from Sugar Road to Mooloolaba Road 
• Providing 2 dedicated left-turn lanes from Mooloolaba Road to Sugar Road 
• Road widening to accommodate additional lanes 
• Signalised pedestrian crossings at the Mooloolaba Road and Sunshine Motorway southbound exit ramp intersection and at the Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection 
• Road resurfacing 
• Dedicated on-road bike lanes and an off-road bike path westbound on the bridge 
• Lighting improvements 

“We’ll also install signalised pedestrian crossings at the Mooloolaba Road and Sunshine Motorway southbound exit ramp intersection and at the Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection to make it safer for people walking through the area. 

“Construction is programmed to begin mid-2023, weather and construction scheduling permitting. 

“We’ll give local residents and road users ample notice before any construction work begins next year,” Minister Bailey said. 

Preliminary planning for the future Buderim Mooloolaba Interchange is due to be completed by mid-next year. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Sunshine Coast News; Roads & Infrastructure Australia