Gold Coast residents have been given their first look at the $1 billion redevelopment of the M1 Varsity Lakes-to-Tugun upgrade, set to get under way next year.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, Alan Tudge said the important piece of infrastructure would help reduce congestion and better connect communities in the region.
“It’s expected this will create more than 800 jobs and be five times the size of the current M1 upgrade at Mudgeeraba,” Mr Tudge said.
“It will feature the region’s first Diverging Diamond Interchange and more lanes for the 10-kilometre stretch plus upgrades to the Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera and Palm Beach exits.”
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey said the upgrade was part of the Queensland Government’s jointly-funded $2.3 billion commitment to building a better M1 and supporting more than 2,000 jobs during construction.
“Close to 150,000 Queenslanders are seeing progress on the M1 every day,” Mr Bailey said.
“We’re gearing up for the future with our plans for the Coomera Connector and a future rail corridor as part of this $1 billion upgrade.”
He said the upgrade would also include the construction of a new service road bridge over Tallebudgera Creek connecting a new western service road between Palm Beach and Tallebudgera.
Smart Motorway technologies would be installed between Varsity Lakes and Tugun and existing technologies retrofitted between Nerang and Mudgeeraba.
“Significant environmental improvements will also feature in the upgrade, including a passage under the motorway to reconnect fauna to the Burleigh-to-Springbrook bioregional wildlife corridor, improved fish passage in waterways and through culverts, fauna fencing, and koala habitat and fodder tree plantings,” Mr Bailey said.
