Major construction for Pacific Motorway connector officially underway

The Coomera Connector Stage 1 project is a major construction project in Queensland that aims to create a ‘second M1’ to alleviate congestion on the M1 Pacific Motorway south of Brisbane. The project involves building a 16-kilometer-long road to remove up to 60,000 local trips a day from the M1 Pacific Motorway, making travel between Brisbane and the Gold Coast more reliable.

The start of main construction on Stage 1 North, between Shipper Drive, Coomera, and Helensvale Road, Helensvale, began recently, following early works that began in November 2021. The Australian Government approved the project’s Public Environment Report (PER), outlining measures to reduce and mitigate the project’s impact on the environment, including enhancing koala habitats at nearby properties in Pimpama and Tabooba.

One of the key features of the first package is a new, 1-kilometer-long, Coomera River bridge crossing, along with a four-meter-wide shared active transport path. The first stage of the project will be delivered in three construction packages, with Stage 1 North currently underway, Stage 1 Central expected to start later this year, and Stage 1 South in the design phase.

Improvements have been made to the final design for Stage 1 North, including changes to the location of the shared path’s rest area and upgrades to surrounding local roads at the interchanges, made by contractor Acciona Georgiou Joint Venture (AGJV). Construction notices will be distributed as the project progresses to provide residents, motorists, and boaties with more information on how and where work will be carried out.

The Coomera Connector project will improve journeys between the growing Coomera and Nerang communities and change how Gold Coast residents travel. It is expected to support an average of 1,000 direct jobs over the life of the project, with the Australian and Queensland governments each committing $1.08 billion to the $2.16 billion project. The Second M1 will open progressively from 2025.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk emphasized the significance of the project, stating that it was critical infrastructure for the South East as the population of the Gold Coast continued to grow. The Queensland Government’s support of the project is expected to back 1,000 local jobs, providing a strong pipeline of investment in the region for years to come. Palaszczuk also noted that the project would get Queenslanders home safer and sooner than ever before, as it is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

Queensland’s Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government Catherine King said that the Coomera Connector project would reduce congestion, boost the economy, and provide southeast Queenslanders with more time to enjoy Queensland’s great lifestyle. She acknowledged that congestion was a significant issue for the region, and the project aimed to address this problem by delivering critical infrastructure. With major construction now underway, works will continue to ramp up over the coming months as this new motorway starts to come to life.

In conclusion, the Coomera Connector Stage 1 project is expected to change how Gold Coast residents travel while improving journeys between Coomera and Nerang communities. The project will also alleviate congestion on the M1 Pacific Motorway, making travel between Brisbane and the Gold Coast more reliable. The Australian and Queensland governments’ investment in the project is expected to create a strong pipeline of investment in the region for years to come, supporting local jobs and the economy. With major construction now underway, the project is expected to bring numerous benefits to the region and its residents.