‘Overhaul entire exit’

$20m upgrade of dangerous interchange not enough

A $20m upgrade of a notorious M1 interchange in the city’s north is a “band-aid” fix that will fail to cater for future traffic demands, area politicians say.

Instead, Gold Coast City councillor Mark Hammel and Coomera MP Michael Crandon say Exit 45 at Ormeau needs a total overhaul before the 2032 Olympics.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey visited the Coast this week to announce the start of a six-month project to reduce queueing at the M1. Speeds will drop to 80km/h in some areas during construction.

But in an update to residents on Facebook, Cr Hammel offered a sobering view on traffic safety and congestion.

“I wish the news were better,” he wrote. “I’m afraid the state government’s recently announced safety upgrade to the Exit 45 southbound offramp at Ormeau can only be described as a band-aid placed over a much bigger wound.”

He said the upgrade included the creation of a leftturn slip lane and acceleration lane southbound, connecting to a new signalised intersection at Lahrs Road and Zupp Drive.

The slip lane will also allow traffic bound for the Yatala industrial precinct to bypass the eastern interchange roundabout.

“There’s no doubting we will very likely see some improvement with congestion, reduced travel times, safety and potentially an improvement for freight access to Yatala and Ormeau,” Cr Hammel said.

“While these improvements are long overdue, we should be grateful they are finally happening. Ultimately, a reduction of dangerous queuing along the M1 during peak traffic times is a good thing.

“But this $20m project is only a drop in the ocean that addresses one of several significant safety and traffic congestion issues at this busy interchange. Only a complete interchange upgrade will fix these issues. And unfortunately, this isn’t it.”

Mr Bailey had indicated the state government was “laying the groundwork for future upgrades at this location, which will be considered as traffic volumes and conditions warrant”.

Cr Hammel said he was an independent councillor and not playing politics, but the remark showed “how out of touch he (Mr Bailey) and his department are when it comes to the very real issues our community faces on our roads every day”.

“Ask any resident or business owner if sitting in traffic for 40 minutes every day to crawl a few hundred metres up the road ‘warrants future upgrades’.

“I sit in the same traffic jams as you – along the M1 and on Eggersdorf Rd, Peachey Rd, Tillyroen Rd and Lahrs Rd. If you ask me – and most locals – the time to get this interchange completely upgraded was about a decade ago.”

Mr Crandon said he would continue to push for a full upgrade of the intersection.

“If you recall, I was committed to a second Exit 45, south of the Pimpama River, and a second northbound on-ramp at the Mirambeena Drive overpasses, had the LNP won government,” he said.

“This band-aid fix was not even on the agenda until then. This is a small step and a full upgrade is what is needed and I will continue to advocate for it.”