Significant progress is being made on Queensland’s future motorway, with several milestones achieved across the project.
More than 1 million working hours have been clocked by crews on the Stage 1 North package.
The almost 1km bridge that spans the Coomera River, Hope Island Road and Saltwater Creek is rapidly coming together with 350 bridge girders installed and 13 bridge deck concrete pours completed so far.
Further installations will begin from mid-September on the 50 girders required for the overpass and pedestrian bridges over Helensvale Road.
Crews have also been busy laying more than 1,500m of asphalt, including the first section of the main motorway alignment near McPhail Road and in areas for future widening around the Helensvale Road interchange and Shipper Drive.
While bridge construction and asphalt laying continues in these areas, work will also begin to ramp up in the next six months for the Coomera Link Road section, where a new signalised intersection will be installed at the Foxwell Road and Shipper Drive roundabout.
Set up of the site compound on the South package is underway and heavy vehicle access has been constructed at Boulton Drive to allow critical preloading works to start in the coming months.
The $3.026 billion project is jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland governments, with this investment estimated to support an average of 1,000 direct jobs over the life of the project.
Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector is expected to progressively open to traffic in sections from late 2025.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, said, “The Australian Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that builds Australia, and the Coomera Connector is just one example of how we are doing that for south east Queensland.
“As one of the biggest infrastructure investments for the region, the Coomera Connector will improve safety, travel times and transport capacity.
“It will also ensure the viability of the M1 not only from a national freight perspective but also, as an intra-regional commuter route and an integral part of the region’s tourism system.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland Anthony Chisholm, said, “When the M1 is congested, the impact can be felt on other motorways right across south east Queensland.
“Giving motorists other travel options is one of the best ways we can relieve our reliance on the M1.
“The Coomera Connector will cut travel times for thousands of locals and visitors, so it’s great to be on site today to see the progress being made on what will be one of the Gold Coast’s major road corridors.
“As more people choose to call the Gold Coast home, that means more cars on our roads.
“We’re committed to delivering the infrastructure projects this part of Queensland needs to improve travel times and remain a great place to live.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Bart Mellish, said, “Our Big Build is all go on the Coomera Connector, and as one of the state’s largest transport infrastructure projects, it is great to see so much construction taking shape.
“There are many areas along the corridor now where significant construction works are underway – building bridges, pouring concrete and laying asphalt.
“The Coomera Connector is generating jobs and improving connectivity in the region, ensuring our state’s two largest cities stay better connected.”
Image: zstock/shutterstock.com
