ROAD UPGRADES PLANNED FOR GOLD COAST

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey yesterday said he was committed to major upgrades on the Gold Coast for the M1 and key Commonwealth Games routes. Of the $518.3 million allocated for South Coast road upgrades in last week’s budget, major Coast projects include: • $18.6m in the next year for extra Pacific Motorway lanes from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes, costing $180m in total

• $14.9m in the next year to widen to six lanes and do other works on Southport-Burleigh Road (from Vespa Crescent to Nerang River Bridge), costing $49m in total

• $39.7m in the next year to upgrade Gold Coast roads specifically in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, part of $160.7m in total.