IN A JAM: EXIT 41 CONGESTION

ing peak hours of operation. TMR will continue to monitor and adjust the operation of the new signals at Exit 41 to ensure the signals operate in the optimal way.”

Mr Crandon believed it was impossible to resolve the congestion by using traffic lights.

“If they are live-managing the traffic lights, there will be a thousand things they’re doing at the same time,” he said.

Before standing down as Transport Minister, Mark Bailey advised that the new Pimpama City Shopping Centre development was required to add an extra 150m of lane capacity on both off ramps at Exit 49.

“This will substantially reduce vehicle queuing towards the motorway through lanes,” Mr Bailey said in June.

But Mr Crandon doubts that the work would begin be- fore the end of 2018.

“It’s a sleight of hand. It’s certainly not something that has been funded for by the Government,” he said. TRANSLINK has revealed the new bus system to service the northern Gold Coast once light rail two starts next year.

After receiving more than 1100 responses to public consultation on the draft timetable, more frequent buses will be provided and they will run later at night in busy areas.

Head of TransLink Matthew Longland said 508 surveys had been completed and TransLink staff had spoken with more than 670 locals during the consultation in April and May.

“Working with residents we’ve had the chance to improve bus services through Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Coombabah, Elanora and Varsity Lakes by removing bus routes that would duplicate tram services,” he said.

“Stage two of light rail and these improvements to the bus network are another positive step in continuing to deliver a connected, high-frequency public transport network for the Gold Coast with now nine high-frequency bus routes in operation in addition to G:link.”

The final bus network will mean routes 713 and 719 from Paradise Point will run every