M1 speed limits maintained with new measures to reduce travel times during congestion

The Palaszczuk Government will introduce smarter speed limit management on the M1 to reduce congestion and improve safety in response to the Commonwealth Games report findings.

The overall speed limit will not be changed, but variable speed limit signs will be introduced to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes and improve travel times.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey today released the findings of the M1 review, and said it made sense that congestion-alleviating variable speed limits should be introduced on the state’s busiest road, with the technology used successfully to reduce congestion on other Queensland highways.

“Congestion variable speed limits are already in place on the Bruce Highway and Logan and Ipswich Motorways, and are proven to help reduce crashes and improve travel times by minimising stop/start congestion patterns with smoother traffic flows,” he said.

“When you are travelling at a lower speed, braking is more effective. This reduces your chance of having a crash and reduces the flow-on effects to other drivers.

“Ramp metering will also form part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to tackle congestion and improve safety on the M1.

“We will now get a detailed implementation plan underway which will include timeframes and extensive community and stakeholder engagement.”

Mr Bailey said in the first year of managed motorways with congestion alleviating variable speed limit signs on the Bruce Highway, motorists experienced a nearly 50% drop in rear end casualties.

“This is an encouraging outcome for road safety and one that can’t be ignored,” he said.

“The severity of crashes also reduced, with the percentage of hospitalisation crashes dropping from 43 per cent to 20 per cent since the implementation of the congestion variable speed limit signs on the Bruce.

“The introduction of managed motorways on the Bruce Highway has also resulted in a congestion reduction during the morning peak from more than four and half hours to just over two hours.

“For individual journeys, the improvement has been most obvious between Boundary Road and the Gateway Motorway where motorists are saving about six minutes during morning peak hour.”

Mr Bailey said significant improvements to M1 safety and travel times were recorded during the games due to a range of then temporary initiatives implemented by the Palaszczuk Government.

“Despite the doomsday predictions of the LNP in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games, traffic on the M1 was well managed throughout the games,” Mr Bailey said.

“Since then, the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) experts have analysed what changes would improve safety and travel times on a permanent basis.”

Mr Bailey said the “managed motorways” approach would also be integrated into the two fully funded M1 major upgrades now under construction at Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes and Gateway merge as well as the two fully funded major M1 upgrades to follow straight after to the NSW border and at the Gateway merge northbound.

Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon welcomed the four fully funded M1 upgrades and new management measures to reduce M1 congestion.

Ms Scanlon said TMR would continue to consult broadly with the heavy vehicle industry, key interest and advocacy groups and the broader community.

“We want to ensure any reforms made through managed motorways initiatives are the right ones,” she said.

“The report also showed a 10 per cent reduction in congestion on some sections of the M1 during peak periods thanks to temporary ramp metering and speed limit reductions.

“Even before the school holidays began, temporary ramp metering reduced congestion and decreased the average delay by up to 22 per cent during peak periods.”

Mr Bailey said ARRB research also showed the introduction of the Trucks Use Left Lane (TULL) initiative along the M1 produced positive results for vehicles.

“We have seen good compliance rates by heavy vehicles since the introduction of the TULL initiative as well as greater speed uniformity and a reduction in the number of lane changes,’’ he said.

"‘These two features are linked to a decrease in the risk of crashes, particularly rear-end and sideswipe crashes.

“As a result, the TULL initiative will remain on the M1 on a permanent basis.”

The ARRB report can be read here: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Projects/M/M1/commgamesreport.pdf

Background:

• On average more than 148,000 vehicles travel on the M1 each day, including more than 12,000 heavy vehicles.
• The operational improvements may include, but are not limited to, the use of electronic variable speed limit signage, ramp metering and lane management initiatives.

ENDS

Media contact: Toby Walker, 0439 347 875