Mooloolah River Interchange: Federal Government provide $2.6 million for business case

The Mooloolah River Interchange has inched closer to becoming a reality after funding was committed for a multimillion dollar study.

The long-awaited Mooloolah River Interchange is inching closer to becoming a reality after the Federal Government confirmed funding for a multimillion dollar study.

Two priority projects in the region will come under the microscope in a $5 million Southern Sunshine Coast Roads Improvement Study.

About $2.6 million from the package will deliver a business case for the Kawana Motorway – Mooloolah River Interchange to Kawana Way Link Road project.

A further $2 million will go towards a business case into the Caloundra Road, Kawana Way Link Road and Bells Creek Arterial Road intersection.

It comes after the State Government spent $7.5 million on a detailed business case for the Mooloolah River Interchange.

The business case identified a preferred option of a major upgrade to the Mooloolah River Interchange and existing connections to the Sunshine Motorway and Nicklin Way as well as a new road connection across the Mooloolah River connecting the upgraded interchange with Kawana Way at Parrearra

It also prioritised upgrading the Sunshine Motorway from the Mooloolah River interchange to Kawana Way from 2 to 4 lanes and creation of new local road links including a direct connection for northbound traffic on Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road in Mooloolaba.

A 2018 Transport and Main Roads concept drawing shows how traffic issues at the Mooloolah River Interchange may ultimately be resolved.

Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the package of works would launch the projects off the drawing board and into reality.

“Both of these projects have been identified as priorities for the region, having the potential to significantly increase safety, reduce congestion and delays,” Mr Wallace said.

He said the project would also deliver a network assessment to identify future upgrade needs in the southern Sunshine Coast area.

“The Sunshine Coast population is widely spread, making our local road networks even more critical for communities to remain safely and efficiently connected to job opportunities, to each other and to essential services such as health and education,” he said.

“By completing a broader road network assessment we will be able to identify priority upgrade needs that aren’t already being addressed by the significant Australian Government investment all over the Sunshine Coast.

“This includes upgrades to the Bruce Highway from Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway, the Mooloolah River Interchange and the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail.”