Major construction begins on $2.16bn Coomera Connector Stage 1

The first sod has been turned to signal the beginning of main construction on Stage 1 of Queensland’s second M1 – the Coomera Connector – marking a new major milestone on the $2.16 billion project. 

The Coomera Connector is the State’s largest single road project to date, and it is anticipated to support 1,000 jobs during its construction. 

“This is a critical infrastructure project for the South East as the population of the Gold Coast continues to grow. 

“Our Government’s support of the Coomera Connector is backing 1,000 local jobs, and a strong pipeline of investment in the region for years to come. 

“As one of the fastest growing regions in the country, this vital road project will get Queenslanders home safer and sooner than ever before,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

Coomera Connector Stage 1 is going to be delivered in three construction packages, namely: 

• Stage 1 North: Shipper Drive, Coomera to Helensvale Road, Helensvale – construction already underway 
• Stage 1 Central: Helensvale Road, Helensvale to Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar – expected to begin construction later this year 
• Stage 1 South: Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar to Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang – currently in the design phase 

Stage 1 North will deliver a new four-lane road that will have the capacity for future widening to six lanes. This section of the project will also include building six new bridge structures. 

“The Coomera Connector is a boon for southeast 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 – it’s a drain on the economy and frustrating for families, which is why we’re getting on with delivering this critical piece of infrastructure. 

“With major construction now underway, works will continue to ramp up over the coming months as this new motorway starts to come to life,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

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

During the design phase for Stage 1 North, several changes and improvements were made including the addition of local connection points for the active transport shared path, location of the rest area on the shared path, and upgrades to surrounding local roads at interchange locations. 

Shipper Drive will be the end point of the project until future stages are built and it will also serve as a main direct access to the Coomera Connector in the north. Works at Shipper Drive will include: 

• Realigning and widening Shipper Drive to four lanes between Foxwell Road and Waterway Drive 
• Converting the existing roundabout at Foxwell Road and Shipper Drive toa fully signalised intersection 
• Constructing a signalised intersection on Shipper Drive between Oaky Creek and Foxwell Road 

A new 1-kilometre Coomera River bridge is also going to be built as part of Stage 1 North, and it will run from the overflow on the north bank crossing the Coomera River and over Hope Island Road and Saltwater Creek. 

Stage 1 North will also include noise mitigation, an active transport network, the Saltwater Creek Reserve, Warrego Way pedestrian underpass, and Helensvale Road interchange. 

The final design for Stage 1 North was delivered by the project’s main contractor, the Acciona Georgiou Joint Venture (AGJV). 

As works progress, construction notices will be distributed to provide residents, motorists and boaties more detail on where and how works are carried out. 

“Only Labor is backing good jobs and better road projects for the people of the South East. 

“From our heavy investment in the M1 and now building the Second M1, Gold Coasters can see just how much we’re doing to alleviate congestion. 

“As an avid cyclist, I am excited this project includes a shared path running the entire 16-kilometre length, with local road connections – this is a game changer for pedestrians, people with prams, bike riders and those using mobility scooters and wheelchairs, as it gives them opportunities to leave the car at home,” QLD Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said. 

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

The beginning of works on the more than $2 billion project follows the approval given by the Australian Government on the project’s Public Environmental Report (PER), which gives the go signal for major construction to commence. 

The PER presents measures that will help reduce and mitigate the project’s impact on the environment, including offsetting and enhancing koala habitats at nearby properties in Pimpama and Tabooba. 

“The Coomera Connector will make a huge difference for Gold Coast drivers and deliver much-needed congestion relief. 

“With more and more people choosing to live and work on the GC, the M1 really cops it, and that daily commute has a big impact on people’s lives. 

“This project is a prime example of what the Palaszczuk and Albanese Governments can achieve together to deliver for Queenslanders,” Senator for Queensland Murray Watt said. 

The Coomera Connector will progressively open to traffic from 2025. Once completed, the second M1 will remove about 60,000 daily local trips from the M1 Pacific Motorway south of Brisbane. 

The project will also transform how Gold Coast residents get around while also improving journeys between the growing communities in Coomera and Nerang. 

“Anyone travelling to or from the Gold Coast knows how desperately the Second M1 is needed – that’s why I campaigned to get it done. 

“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 for the Environment and State Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said. 

Key features of the overall Coomera Connector Stage 1 include: 

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

The $2.16 billion Coomera Connector Stage 1 is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Government on a 50:50 basis, each contributing $1.08 billion. 

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