Second M1 ‘no silver bullet’ to congestion
NEW aerial video footage reveals shocking traffic congestion in the Gold Coast’s north and along with expert mapping explains why a second M1 will not be sufficient to resolve the problems.
The single lane roads along with unsafe intersections through canelands and old farming communities east of the M1 will need to be upgraded and linked to the Coomera Connector.
Division 1 candidate Mark Hammel – one of several candidates in the north seeking to be the new councillor in the vacant division at the March 28 poll – organised for the drone footage and created the maps after talking to top urban planners and engineers.
“The Coomera Connector will be critical for keeping Division 1 residents and industry moving faster and safer but it’s not a silver bullet. We need to be thinking bigger picture when it comes to a long-term integrated traffic solution for our area,” Mr Hammel said.
“If we don’t plan the Coomera Connector to go in the right place or plan for the arterial and feeder roads – both local and state roads – to connect into it in the right places, it will end up having a negative effect on traffic in Division 1 in the longer term.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin has successfully campaigned for M1 upgrades after residents, three years ago, complained it was taking 23 minutes to crawl 150m from their Pimpama homes.
Surveyors late last year started investigative work on upgrades at Exit 49 and Exit 41 after the Federal Government joined the State Government to fast forward the jointlyfunded $192.6 million interchange upgrades.
Transport and Main Roads Queensland says the projects are at a community consultation stage, a business case will be completed this year, and detailed design will be finished late next year with construction expected to start in mid-2022.
Consultation was staged for the six-lane Coomera Connector late last year, with the Government seeking feedback on the first stage – a 17km stretch from Nerang to Coomera.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has vowed the Government will put the foot to the floor in aiming for construction to start in 2023. Meanwhile, the M1 is headed for capacity at 162,000 vehicles a day.
Mr Hammel welcomed the green lighting of works on the Coomera Connector but said he knew there were several “choke points” as it divides the sprawling communities and industrial estates east of the M1.
“A big problem when driving around our division is we are split in half by the M1 and with the Coomera Connector, we’ll have a second highway dividing us in thirds in the nottoo-distant future, so we need to start planning a long-term solution for that now,” Mr Hammel said said.
After talks with town planners, surveyors and traffic engineering consultants, he said the following needed to be planned:
Completing four-laning of Yawalpah Rd including across the railway line.
Four-laning of Burnside Rd as a major truck thoroughfare.
Upgrading MirambeenaPimpama Jacobs Well intersection to improve safety for school traffic.
Upgrading of the NorwellPimpama Jacobs Well roads for safer turning.
“When it comes to traffic, Division 1 can’t afford to be forgotten when you take into account the huge future growth expected in our residential areas like Pimpama and Ormeau, and the industrial expansion of the Yatala Enterprise Area,” Mr Hammel said.