Queensland's M1 Pacific Motorway widening – between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes – takes another step closer to beginning major construction with Seymour Whyte Constructions awarded the contract to deliver the project.
According to Federal Minister for Urban infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher, the M1 widening will help reduce congestion as well as improve freight efficiency and road safety. The upgrade also provide better access to the Gold Coast CBD and its surrounding areas.
“This is an important traffic corridor and the upgrade will provide a vital injection of jobs, unlock economic capacity and better serve our communities now and for decades to come,” Mr Fletcher said.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said that this project will improve the traffic situation on the southern Gold Coast. The Minister added that construction will support more than 300 jobs over the life of the project, boosting the local economy.
“The tender process ensured all three tenderers, Seymour Whyte, CPB Contractors and Lendlease had input into the design and were able to explore innovative construction methods,” Mr Bailey said.
This upgrade will include:
- Widening a 5.7-kilometre section of the motorway to three lanes in each direction between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes; and to four lanes northbound between Robina and The Link Way
- Extending entry and exit ramps to meet the current design standards
- Reconstructing the Mudgeeraba Creek and Mudgeeraba Creek overflow bridges on the northbound side to better withstand flood events
- Removing the right turn movement from The Link Way off-ramp to The Link Way northbound to improve safety
- Constructing a new bridge for Stapley Drive
- Combining the southbound exit ramps to Stapley Drive and Reedy Creek Road
- Making provision for a future managed motorway system
Major construction is expected to begin after the Commonwealth Games and be completed by mid-2020, weather permitting.
This $180 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments, with the former contributing a capped $110 million and the latter will provide the remainder.
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Source: Queensland Government
