More pain for gain as ‘Games lanes’ added to two of city’s busy roads

GOLD Coast motorists will be the big winners from news that extra lanes are to be added to a major arterial route to handle Commonwealth Games traffic.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has announced it will focus on adding a lane in each direction to Olsen Ave and the SouthportNerang Rd now that the $78 million Smith St interchangehas been completed.

The extra lanes will be reserved for Commonwealth Games traffic for the 11 days that the Games are taking place.

However Department of Transport and Main Roads regional director Paul Noonan said Gold Coast commuters will have the lanes for about a year before they are closed in time for six million extra road trips expected during the Commonwealth Games.

“During the Games, one of the lanes, probably one of the outside lanes, will actually be painted as a Commonwealth Games lane specifically for what we call the Commonwealth Games family,” Mr Noonan said. “It’s for athletes, their officials, team support, Commonwealth Games officials and heads of states.

“They will be general purpose lanes until just before the Games, then we’ll put a coat of paint on them and designate signage,” he said.

“We’ll come along after the Games and remove the markings.”

The Department said it is still making decisions about other lane Games.

RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said local motorists are used to planning their trips ahead of time with traffic delays for major events.

“There will be closures like the GC600 and Gold Coast Marathon but they will be much bigger,” Ms Smith said.

“We are confident Gold Coasters are used to closures

closures

for

the like this and will be able to plan their trips ahead of time.

“Roads like Olsen Ave do need these upgrades we believe.”

Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey said $160 million in Commonwealth Games package projects is expected to create extra an 480 jobs for the Gold Coast. “It’s absolutely worth it (the congestion and disruptions),” he said.