Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade design contract signed
A $320m project expected to slash travel times between northern and southern Sunshine Coast suburbs has reached a major milestone. Watch the video to see what’s coming
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Design work is starting on a $320m project years in the making touted to slash travel times across the Sunshine Coast to key areas such as the hospital precinct in Birtinya and the Maroochydore CBD.
GHD SMEC Joint Venture has been awarded the design contract for the Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade.
The state and federal government funded project which will upgrade parts of the Sunshine Motorway and provide new connections from Nicklin Way and Karawatha Dr to Brisbane Rd at Mooloolaba.
It will also provide transport links to economic hubs such as the Maroochydore City Centre, Birtinya and Sunshine Coast University Hospital precinct.
The interchange is at the convergence of three key network connections – Sunshine Motorway, Nicklin Way and Brisbane Rd.
It is expected to improve peak period travel speeds by up to 16 per cent.
It will save drivers travelling between northern suburbs and the hospital up to 11 minutes, if constructed by 2026, and up to 26 minutes by 2041.
Maroochydore to Bruce Highway travel times will reduce by up to four minutes by 2026, and up to 22 minutes by 2041.
Construction is due to start in 2023 with the completion timeline to be determined at the end of the design process.
Federal Minister for urban infrastructure Paul Fletcher said it would make it quicker and easier for commuters to travel between the Sunshine Coast’s northern suburbs and southern growth areas.
Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles said it would also improve safety for Mooloolaba residents and tourists through providing better access roads.
“The first stage will see a new overpass built to provide a more direct and efficient connection from Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road in Mooloolaba, and a new local road will connect Karawatha Drive in Mountain Creek to Brisbane Road in Mooloolaba,” he said.
“Delivering these local connections lays the foundations for future construction and helps to reduce disruptions to drivers.”
Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said future stages would include a new crossing of the Mooloolah River between the Sunshine Motorway and Kawana Way.
He said it would also deliver major upgrades to the interchange at Mooloolah River with connections to Sunshine Motorway, Nicklin Way and Kawana Way.
Sunshine Motorway would be upgraded from two to four lanes between Kawana Way and the interchange.
Mr Miles said consultation with locals played an important part in the planning process.
“Making sure the local community can provide feedback on the designs gives us the confidence that we will infrastructure that will benefit the community,” he said.
“The feedback provided earlier this year has been collated and will help to inform the design of the upgraded interchange, which we expect will be complete in 2023.
“The community will have another opportunity to provide their feedback once a proposed design is developed.”
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