Major Sunshine Coast interchange works begin at Mountain Creek

A multi-billion dollar road upgrade dubbed "the gamechanger" is underway on the Sunshine Coast, targeting the region's most infamous traffic chokepoint.

Premier David Crisafulli, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg and Member of Maroochydore Fiona Simpson discussing the Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade.

Premier David Crisafulli announced the kick off to stage 1 of “a multi-billion dollar” project for Sunshine Coast residents on Monday calling it the “gamechanger”.

He was joined by Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, and Member of Maroochydore, Fiona Simpson at Mountain Creek for the Mooloolah River Interchange (MRI) upgrade announcement.

Member of Maroochydore Fiona Simpson, Premier David Crisafulli, and Minister Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg observe the project’s “early work” starting in Mountain Creek.

The MRI upgrade is apart of a broader plan known as, The Wave, which plans to “deliver generational infrastructure for the region”.

Mr Mickelberg said people may be unaware of the MRI, but they know of the problem that arises on the Sunshine Motorway.

“They know the problem that exists here because they hit traffic every single time they hit that one lane section there on the Sunshine Motorway,” Mr Mickelberg said.

Mr Mickelberg addressed residents had been “crying out for these works for many years”.

“This bottleneck in the centre of the Sunshine Coast that has been choking traffic for so long will be fixed because of the Crisafulli government’s commitment to deliver the upgrades right here in Mountain Creek,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“We’ll be opening tenders for the next stage of the MRI in late this year, and awarding that early next year, so we can get on with the job of building these important upgrades.”

Premier David Crisafulli said it was a “generational plan” at the press conference today

The Premier said it was a “generational plan” to deal with the roads.

“Growth provides opportunities, but you have to build infrastructure ahead of the games and protect the lifestyle of the people who are here,” he said.

“That’s what this is about, and it’s delivering the kind of generational plan a growing state needs.”

Mr Crisafulli referred to the day as a “day many thought would never come, but a day that is underway”.

Fiona Simpson said these developments will “unblock this bottleneck”.

Member of Maroochydore Fiona Simpson, Premier David Crisafulli, and Minister Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg at the press conference in Mountain Creek.

“This will mean such a big difference to everybody who is caught in traffic due to congestion in the worst congestion bottleneck on the Sunshine Coast, which then radiates out,” Ms Simpson said.

“What this means for everybody who lives on the Sunshine Coast, and lives in our electorate, is delivering the infrastructure that will finally bring about the transformation of change this area needs.”

Mr Mickelberg said they are committed to delivering the MRI upgrade by 2032.