Bridge work will see travel time slashed

THE bridge to connect Southport and Main Beach has passed the halfway mark, with its 2021 completion on track.

Construction of the fifth lane for the Sundale Bridge is under way, with the $34m upgrades to the bridge and Waterways Dve, Main Beach Pde and Macarthur Pde on track to be complete by late next year. The construction is being built to increase network capacity and improve traffic flow along the popular route connecting Main Beach and Southport.

When complete there will be five lanes on the Sundale Bridge, a signalised T-intersection at the previous Macarthur Pde-SeaWorld Dve roundabout and 1700m of new footpath to encourage excising around Main Beach.

The traffic flow in the area will also be improved by clearing northbound traffic off Waterways Dve and the Sundale Bridge, which will provide more green traffic light time for travellers heading south on the Gold Coast Hwy.

Mayor Tom Tate said the project would significantly improve safety as well as northbound traffic flow through Southport.

“Works to create the third northbound lane on the Sundale Bridge are well under way and are on time and on budget,” he said. “Drivers travelling from The Spit to Southport often experience significant delays during peak times. Without intervention, by 2041 the delay could increase by up to two hours.

“Upon completion in late 2021, travel from The Spit to Southport is projected to take only eight minutes during peak times.”