M1 SPEED CHANGES

M1 gridlock-busting plan includes variable limits

THE State Government is looking to introduce “variable speed limits” on the M1 to better deal with gridlock.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey last night said reduced limits would be enforced when traffic became congested between northern Gold Coast and south Brisbane. He could not say when the new rule would come into effect and denied the move was a revenue grab.

THE State Government is looking to introduce “variable speed limits” on the M1 to better deal with gridlock.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey last night told The Gold Coast Bulletin reduced limits would be enforced when traffic became congested between northern Gold Coast and south Brisbane.

The current maximum limits would remain when the state’s busiest road was relatively clear. He could not say when the new rule would come into effect and rejected claims the move was a revenue grab.

The government is making the changes after an independent review of the lower speed limits and metered ramping implemented during the Commonwealth Games in April.

The variable speed limits would be posted on the motorway via electronic signs.

“We’re keeping the speed limits where they are in the sections where they are 110 and 100, but we’re looking at bestpractice measures to reduce congestion and decrease travel time for people on the M1 and that involves having congestion-variable speed limits,” Mr Bailey said. “It’s real time responses to traffic congestion via a 24/7 CCTV network.

“As our officers see congestion they are able to respond using managed motorways technology where they can then adjust the speed limit down where traffic is starting to bank up.”

Mr Bailey said while he was aware that lowering speed limits to get drivers from A to B faster sounded illogical, dropping limits produced better traffic flow and fewer accidents. “It’s not about going slower, it’s bringing the maximum speed down so that it evens the traffic flow and that generally means that people get a faster journey,” he said.

“Merging is smoother, traffic flow is smoother because there is less of a difference between speeds and there are less lane changes. One of the things that crunches traffic into a jam is crashes. So if you’ve got less crashes everyone benefits.

“The introduction of managed motorways on the Bruce Highway has also resulted in a congestion reduction during the morning peak from more than four-and-a-half hours to just over two hours.”

The minister could not say when the changes would be brought in but assured there would be plenty of notice.

Mr Bailey said the new limits would be “enforced”. However, he denied the exercise was a revenue grab.

He said the government would not increase the number of fixed speed cameras to catch drivers failing to adhere to the new rules and speed limits.