THE HEAT IS ON

Coast gears up for gridlock hell as Games transport plan revealed

SOME of the Gold Coasts busiest arterial roads will become virtual no-go zones during the Commonwealth Games, causing fears of ‘traffic-gheddon’ during peak times

‘Heat maps’ released yesterday, along with the Games transport plan, show just how busy key roads will become, while road restrictions will come into effect weeks before the event begins. Trams, buses and trains will run 24 hours a day, speeds will be reduced on the M1 and Games-only shuttle buses will be introduced.

However, preventing gridlock is in the hands of Gold Coast motorists, according to event boss Peter Beattie.

PREVENTING gridlock during the 2018 Commonwealth Games is in the hands of the Gold Coast’s motorists, according to event boss Peter Beattie.

Trams, buses and trains will run 24 hours a day, speeds will be reduced on the M1 and Games-only shuttle buses will be introduced to keep the city moving for the 12 days when its population will rise to more than 1 million people.

The Commonwealth Games transport plan, released to the public yesterday, will see road restrictions come into effect weeks before the event begins, in anticipation of more than six million extra trips being made on the city’s net, causing fears of a ‘trafficgheddon’.

But Mr Beattie, the former premier turned GOLDOC boss, has issued a warning to the entire Gold Coast population saying they have the power to keep the city moving.

“I don’t think there is any doubt the biggest challenge facing the Games is transport and we have come up with a comprehensive plan to deliver a Games which will make all of Australia proud,” he said.

“The only way this will fail is if people do not buy into it. That’s the only way it will fail.

“This is why we need everyone in the community to be a part of this with us, work with us, look at the website and appreciate the magnitude of the challenge and how they can participate and change their behaviour.”

Mr Beattie’s comments come after a survey of more than 1200 people conducted by the Bulletin revealed 65 per cent of people declaring they have no plans to stay off the road

According to maps and data released yesterday by the State Government, some of the city’s busiest arterial roads will become virtual no-go zones which will experience the worst traffic including:

• 6AM-11AM: M1, Napper Road, Smith Street, Southport Nerang Road, Ross St, Bermuda Street (between Broadbeach and down to Markeri Street), Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Labrador), High Street, Southport, Queen Street, Southport, Olsen Avenue, Parkwood, Gold Coast Highway, Coolangatta and Burleigh, Gold Coast Highway, Helensvale.

• 3PM-6PM: M1, Smith Street, Ross Street, Carrara, Bermuda Street, Olsen Avenue, Parkwood, Queen Street Southport, Gold Coast Highway, Helensvale, Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Labrador, Stevens Street, Southport, Southport-Nerang Road, Kumbari Ave, Christine Ave, Miami.

To cope with extra visitors and bring more people to the Coast without using the M1, trains will run every 10 minutes in both directions with frequency increased for events which are more popular and require higher demand.

Traffic Management will come into effect on March 20 around the Commonwealth Games village with further restrictions coming into place on March 25.

During the Games, there will be 13 temporary park and ride car parks, eight transport hubs, 300km of designated road and traffic management areas, 20 dedicated bus routes and 27km of temporary Games lanes which will be open for athletes, officials, the Royal Family and a select few politicians, including premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Games Minister Kate Jones and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

There will be 475 buses operated by 665 drivers with frequency to increase to every 15 minutes or better.

Ms Jones has urged everyone to get involved and be prepared for the event.

“We want locals and spectators to familiarise themselves with how they can prepare and adapt their normal travel habits during the event,” she said.

“We always knew we would have to cater for a huge increase of traffic during the Games but we have worked for many years to maximise the opportunity for people during the Games to use our strong transport network.”

THE ONLY WAY THIS WILL FAIL IS IF PEOPLE DO NOT BUY INTO IT ... THIS IS WHY WE NEED EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS WITH US PETER BEATTIE