M1 plan way too slow: Mayor

A $2.5bn plan to upgrade the M1 over the next four years has been slammed for being “way too slow” to keep up with worsening Gold Coast congestion.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has called for a review into the Department of Transport and Main Roads and demanded a construction brief of planned upgrades be made available to council.

“As I watch upgrades on the M1, the speed at which it’s done is way too slow,” Mr Tate said on Wednesday.

“Being a civil engineer myself, if this was in another country they would have it all done quickly, like in half the amount of time.

“I know the TMR have a new director general, I’d like to get a briefing from her. I’d like to know why it’s taking so long – is it the sandstone underneath? People want to know.”

It comes after an unprecedented move by city and state bureaucrats to rid red tape road blocks to make way for an additional M1 interchange, overpass and underpass crossings for local eastwest movement, and to establish new local link roads to the M1.

Concerns have also been raised that forecast population growth in the Coomera area could add additional congestion stress.

Even with projects like the Coomera Connector, which will add an additional 16km of new motorway between Coomera and Nerang as part of stage 1 construction, Deputy Mayor Donna Gates suggested this week that “it might get worse before it gets better”.

Mr Tate added: “(Construction) should start earlier so that it’s finished well in advance of the 2032 Olympics.

“Matter of fact, South East Queenslanders want it finished as soon as possible. We want to start using it well ahead of the Olympics.”

Meanwhile, council clean up efforts relating to the Christmas storm continue to progress throughout the worst hit parts of the city – including restoration of damaged roads and public amenities.

On Wednesday, Mr Tate said Operation Clean Up was 75 per cent complete.