Work to begin on Coomera Connector with construction crews on the ground for the $2bn second M1 build
The Coomera Connector has been given the final green light with the State Government announcing it will start work on the $2.16bn second M1.
Gold Coast
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The Coomera Connector has been given the final green light with the state government announcing it will start work on the $2.16bn project dubbed the second M1 in the next few days.
The announcement ends speculation about the state’s biggest road project after residents tried to stop it only for their request to the Federal Environment Department to be rejected.
Work is likely to start by the weekend around the Coomera River section of the first stage.
“It’s full speed ahead for the second M1,” Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.
“We’ve just received the final environmental approval for the Coomera Connector, which means we can get cracking on major construction.
“This is the final approval we need, which means heavy work will start later this week. It’s fantastic news for not only the Gold Coast, but all of southeast Queensland as the second M1 will help bust congestion for the region.”
The four-lane highway in a six-lane corridor will be delivered in three construction packages on the 16km first stage.
The first section is Shipper Drive to Helensvale Road, the second south from there to the Smith Street Motorway with the final linking up again south to Nerang-Broadbeach Road.
Budget forecasts show much of the funding from 2024 but there is the possibility of some sections opening earlier than the schedule finish of around 2026.
Mr Bailey fired off a political shot at his LNP opponents saying Labor in government secured the corridor east of the M1 and next to the heavy rail route and secured construction funding in record time.
Environment Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon welcomed the announcement, aware the M1 was heading towards gridlock and accidents led to lengthy delays of several hours.
“Anyone travelling to or from the Gold Coast knows how desperately the second M1 is needed – that’s why I campaigned to get it done,” she said.
“With our city’s population expected to reach close to 800,000 in the next 10 years, we’re investing more than $5 billion in road and rail projects across our city.”
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the Commonwealth was “excited to partner” with the state government on Queensland’s largest road project.
“We know Queensland, and in particular the Gold Coast, is growing rapidly and so we need to deliver transport infrastructure to support that growth,” Ms King said.
“The Coomera Connector will do just that by proving a brand new major highway between the Gold Coast and Logan.
“Getting the environmental approval means we can now get on with heavy work and deliver this congestion busting road for Queensland.”
Originally published as Work to begin on Coomera Connector with construction crews on the ground for the $2bn second M1 build
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