Motorway Congestion fix is coming Slowly
Words by Marshall Hall
The M1 motorway is a debacle, according to Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates
but the council is working on a $2.5 billion plan to fix the congestion in the city’s
northern and central suburbs.
During the past 10 years, the commute time from Pimpama to Broadbeach during
peak hour has doubled from 30 minutes to more than an hour.
This has stemmed from the spectacular population growth in the northern suburbs.
In the past 7 years alone, 2600 dwellings were built in Coomera, while the population of Pimpama jumped from 9000 to 25,000 residents.
This increase in population has led to the M1 and its feeder roads turning into parking
lots during peak times. While construction of the first stage of the Coomera
Connector is set to be finished in 2025, and the Pimpama exit is undergoing a major
overhaul, those changes alone will not solve the woes of commuters.
Ms. Gates says the road network in the Coomera area would benefit from:
• An additional interchange on the M1 between Exits 49 and 54.
• Additional east-west crossings of the M1 (overpass or underpass)
• New link roads to provide alternative routes for motorists during peak times.
The council and the State Government have committed $2.5 billion to solving the
traffic issues over the next four years.