Gateway Motorway crash: Traffic nightmare after multi-vehicle crashes

Traffic is beginning to return to normal after a series of wild crashes on one of South-East Queensland’s busiest roads, but delays still remain.

Traffic is at a standstill on the Gateway Motorway at Bald Hills after a multi-vehicle crash. Picture: File

Two crashes on the Gateway Motorway are causing a major Saturday traffic nightmare for commuters, with traffic backed up for kilometres and delays of more than an hour.

Northbound motorists on the M1 faced delays of nearly an hour after a crash involving up to eight vehicles and 19 patients.

A police spokeswoman said police were alerted to the crash at 12:45pm and investigators were still on the motorway 400m south of the Wyampa Road overpass at Bald Hills, determining exactly how the crash occurred.

Police are currently at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the Gateway Motorway northbound at Bald Hills. The incident is located 400m south of the Wyampa Road overpass, however traffic is at a standstill for several kilometres. Please avoid the area or plan alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/9LTtLfZay2

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 26, 2023

Police urged drivers to avoid the Gateway Motorway with traffic at a standstill for more than five kilometres and delays felt all the way to North Lakes.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said 19 patients were treated for minor injuries including whiplash and airbag injuries.

Five of the 19 patients at the Bald Hills crash required further assessment, however declined being taken to hospital.

Police responding to the Gateway Motorway southbound at Eagle Farm after a truck and car collided. Extensive delays are expected in both directions on the Gateway Motorway and motorists are urged to avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/7OG2ItC0rt

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 26, 2023

Police also responded to another crash on the Gateway Motorway after a tire exploded and caused a car to collide with a truck at about 1.05pm.

Police said the explosion happened in the Southbound lanes past Moreton Drive at Eagle Farm.

A QAS spokeswomen said wo stable patients were transported to Prince Charles Hospital and two stable patients were transported to Logan Hospital.

A third crash on the M1 involving a motorcyclist and their passenger at Murrarie also caused delays.

Police said a motorcyclist and a passenger were on their bike when it crashed into a guard rail near Lytton Rd, however they escaped serious injury.

The QPS spokeswoman said the bike had slid underneath the rail.

By 2:51pm the Bald Hills and Murrarie crashes along the motorway had been cleared with congestion clearing to 10 minutes for southbound motorists.

The Department of Transport and Main roads were still advising motorists to expect delays and proceed with caution on both southbound lanes towards the Gateway Bridge at 3:08pm.

On the southside, another multi-vehicle crash also shut Vulture St East in East Brisbane with the outbound lane towards Coorparoo blocked. It has since reopened.