Reminder of M1 truckie changes

Lane restrictions on the Pacific Motorway (M1) will kick in tomorrow as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to improving safety and traffic flow.

Main Roads and Road Safety Acting Minister Steven Miles said this was a reminder for truck drivers that M1 lane restrictions will start tomorrow, Tuesday 1 August.

“The lane restrictions will apply for a 60 kilometre section of the M1, between Springwood (Exit 20) and Robina (Exit 82 Southbound and Exit 79 Northbound), with trucks over 4.5 tonnes only able to use the left two lanes,” Mr Miles said.

“The introduction of lane restrictions along this section of the M1 will help all vehicles share the road, reduce congestion, improve travel times and make the M1 safer for all drivers.”

Mr Miles said the measure was announced in April as part of a suite of actions to reduce congestion, maximise capacity and improve the reliability of the M1 for the duration of the Games.

Temporary measures to improve traffic flow on the M1 include:

• Restricting trucks over 4.5 tonnes to the two left lanes from the M1/M3 merge at Eight Mile Plains to Nerang-Broadbeach Road, from August 2017 onwards.
• Allowing vehicles carrying athletes and officials under police escort to travel along the hard shoulder of a section of the M1 from Smith St to Hope Island at low speed if there is congestion that may prevent them from arriving at an event on time.
• Reducing the speed in the 100km/h zone by 10 km/h to 90km/h from the M1/M3 merge at Eight Mile Plains to Logan Motorway interchange.
• Reducing the speed in the 110km/h speed zone by 10km/h to 100km/h from the Logan Motorway Interchange to Smith Street (Exit 66).
• Temporary ramp management at the south bound Gold Coast Highway and Smith Street on-ramps.
• Additional Traffic Response Units and towing vehicles to ensure incidents are cleared as quickly as possible.

“The M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is Queensland’s busiest road.It’s important to the success of the Games that we keep traffic moving on the M1,” Mr Miles said.

“The national and international experience shows that when trucks are restricted from the right lane on motorways traffic flows more smoothly, there are fewer crashes and there is minimal impact on freight efficiency.

“For example, in the USA, truck lane restrictions have been implemented in South Carolina, where they resulted in 76% reduction in truck-related crashes.  In Texas, this initiative resulted in 68% reduction in all crashes.”

Mr Miles said trucks would be permitted to overtake other vehicles, if it is safe to do so, but they must not travel outside the left two lanes.

“A truck can of course use the right hand lane if they have to avoid a hazard or an obstruction,” he said.

Variable message signs on the M1 have been promoting the introduction of ‘trucks use left lanes’ since early June, so most motorists should be aware of the changes.

Transport and Main Roads has also notified transport and freight peak bodies and industry representatives about the change. 

The restrictions will apply to vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass, 24 hours a day.

An extensive signage scheme denoting the lane restriction zones is being installed along the M1 between Springwood and Robina.

The Queensland Government will review the effectiveness of the measure following the Commonwealth Games.

ENDS

Media contact - Amy Hunter