More QLD M1 Pacific Motorway upgrades move forward towards construction

More upgrade works on the Pacific Motorway (M1) in Queensland are set to go underway soon with design works commencing on the first sections of the Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hills and Varsity Lakes to Tugun sections.

Design works are being undertaken by Jacobs and Aecom/Arcadis and SMEC Holdings Limited.

The two projects are part of the Australian Government’s $1.7 billion investment for the M1.

“This includes $500 million announced in Tuesday’s Federal Budget for Daisy Hill to Logan Motorways.

“We want to get Queenslanders home sooner and safer, which is why we are making sure the M1 is world-class,” Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said.

Works on the 8-kilometre Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill section upgrade will include:

• Widening to five northbound lanes between Gateway Motorway and Loganlea Road
• Widening to four southbound lanes between Rochedale Road and Logan Road
• South East Busway Extension from Eight Mile Plains to Springwood including a new bus station and park-n-ride at Rochedale
• Completion of the missing V1 cycleway link on the western side of the M1 from the Gateway Motorway to Paradise Road

On the other hand, works considered for the Varsity Lakes to Tugun section of M1 include:

• Widening a 10-kilometre stretch of the M1 from two to three lanes in both directions
• Upgrades to interchanges at Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera and Palm Beach
• Widening of the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek bridges
• Construction of a new service road bridge over the Tallebudgera Creek west of M1 at Tallebudgera
• Making provisions for a smart motorway system from Nerang to Tugun
• Making provisions for a future extension of heavy rail

“We’ve worked closely with Building Queensland to finalise the business cases for these upgrades, and we can now begin negotiations with the Australian Government to progress designs and construction,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said.

The Minister added that approximately 721 jobs are expected to be supported by the Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill upgrade as well as 837 jobs by the Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade.

Detailed plans and designs for the two projects are expected to be shared to the public later this year, with construction anticipated to begin in 2020.

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Source: Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population; Department of Transport and Main Roads (1, 2)