Published Wednesday, 20 February, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Work starts on Nielsens Road interchange at Nerang
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt today turned the first sod for the $45 million upgrade of the Nerang South (Nielsens Road) interchange, signaling the start of the upgrade of the Pacific Motorway between Nerang and Tugun.
Sitting aboard an excavator and joined by Member for Mudgeeraba Dianne Reilly, Mr Pitt made the first indentations in the Nerang South soil, ahead of the start of full-scale works this week.
Contractor Seymour White will undertake the upgrade, which includes widening the overpass across the M1 from two lanes to eight lanes.
"This interchange needs upgrading to meet the demands of the increasing Gold Coast population," Mr Pitt said.
"By the end of this week, there will be a flurry of construction activity on site that will result in a fully operational motorway-standard interchange by mid-2009.
"Apart from the widening of the overpass, the new interchange will boast synchronised traffic lights instead of the current roundabouts, and longer on-ramps and off-ramps for safer merging onto and exiting from the M1."
Mrs Reilly said the longer on and off-ramps tied in with the long-term upgrade of the Pacific Motorway between Nerang and Tugun.
"Eventually, this particular section of the M1 will be widened to six and then eight lanes, and an upgraded Nerang South interchange is an important first step towards that," Mrs Reilly said.
"The real value of the longer on and off-ramps will really become apparent in a six-lane environment, but the upgraded interchange will improve traffic flow immediately.
"Those benefits won't just be limited to the interchange and Nielsens Road itself. Local roads around the interchange, such as Hinkler Drive and Spencer Road, will also flow more smoothly."
Mr Pitt said the staged approach to upgrading the M1 demonstrated the State Government's commitment to tackling pressing congestion and safety concerns on one of Queensland's busiest roads.
The stretch of the M1 between Nerang and Tugun carries more than 100,000 vehicles each day.
"By rolling out the Pacific Motorway upgrade in stages, Main Roads can identify and target the most pressing needs," Mr Pitt said.
"This State Government's commitment to improving the Gold Coast road network is clear.
"On top of the $423 million Queensland has invested in constructing the Tugun Bypass, nearly $400 million in combined state and federal funds are available to upgrade the M1 between Nerang and Varsity Lakes.
"The Nerang South upgrade is just the start of this."
Mrs Reilly said planning was currently being undertaken for the upgrade of the Mudgeeraba and Robina interchanges, with final designs and construction timelines to be announced later in the year.
She said a major upgrade of the Varsity Lakes interchange was also being planned, to coincide with the completion of the rail extension to Varsity Lakes in late 2009.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Mrs Reilly’s Office 5569 0482
Sitting aboard an excavator and joined by Member for Mudgeeraba Dianne Reilly, Mr Pitt made the first indentations in the Nerang South soil, ahead of the start of full-scale works this week.
Contractor Seymour White will undertake the upgrade, which includes widening the overpass across the M1 from two lanes to eight lanes.
"This interchange needs upgrading to meet the demands of the increasing Gold Coast population," Mr Pitt said.
"By the end of this week, there will be a flurry of construction activity on site that will result in a fully operational motorway-standard interchange by mid-2009.
"Apart from the widening of the overpass, the new interchange will boast synchronised traffic lights instead of the current roundabouts, and longer on-ramps and off-ramps for safer merging onto and exiting from the M1."
Mrs Reilly said the longer on and off-ramps tied in with the long-term upgrade of the Pacific Motorway between Nerang and Tugun.
"Eventually, this particular section of the M1 will be widened to six and then eight lanes, and an upgraded Nerang South interchange is an important first step towards that," Mrs Reilly said.
"The real value of the longer on and off-ramps will really become apparent in a six-lane environment, but the upgraded interchange will improve traffic flow immediately.
"Those benefits won't just be limited to the interchange and Nielsens Road itself. Local roads around the interchange, such as Hinkler Drive and Spencer Road, will also flow more smoothly."
Mr Pitt said the staged approach to upgrading the M1 demonstrated the State Government's commitment to tackling pressing congestion and safety concerns on one of Queensland's busiest roads.
The stretch of the M1 between Nerang and Tugun carries more than 100,000 vehicles each day.
"By rolling out the Pacific Motorway upgrade in stages, Main Roads can identify and target the most pressing needs," Mr Pitt said.
"This State Government's commitment to improving the Gold Coast road network is clear.
"On top of the $423 million Queensland has invested in constructing the Tugun Bypass, nearly $400 million in combined state and federal funds are available to upgrade the M1 between Nerang and Varsity Lakes.
"The Nerang South upgrade is just the start of this."
Mrs Reilly said planning was currently being undertaken for the upgrade of the Mudgeeraba and Robina interchanges, with final designs and construction timelines to be announced later in the year.
She said a major upgrade of the Varsity Lakes interchange was also being planned, to coincide with the completion of the rail extension to Varsity Lakes in late 2009.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Mrs Reilly’s Office 5569 0482