Opposition leader Bill Shorten pledges $168 million to fix notorious M1 merge

IT’S a small stretch of road that causes huge headaches for southeast motorists and it has just become part of the federal election campaign - with one party promising big money to fix it.

The Eight Mile Plain merge to Rochedale Rd exit stretch could be upgraded.

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• M1 upgrade: Upgrade could see 10-lane highway
• M1 upgrade: Funding standoff continues

IT is one of the most notorious stretches of roads in the state and Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten has wasted no time in wheeling out a big promise to fix it.

Speaking at a public forum in Beenleigh earlier this evening, Mr Shorten pledged $168 million toward fixing part of the troubled M1.

The election commitment would be to widen the southbound Eight Mile Plains merge where the M1 meets the M3.

Mr Shorten said if the ALP was successful at the July 2 federal election, work to widen the 4km section of road from the Eight Mile Plains merge to the Rochedale Rd exit at Springwood would start in 2017.

He said the state government would contribute $42 million to the project.

Mr Shorten said ALP funding was exclusively for the southbound section of road.

“Labor will put people in the Brisbane-Logan-Gold Coast corridor first by lowering traffic and easing congestion on this nationally significant highway,’’ he said.

“Jim Chalmers (federal Member for Rankin) and Des Hardman (ALP federal candidate for Forde) have been relentless campaigners for this much-needed upgrade — this announcement today is due to their tireless work and fierce campaigning.”

Mr Chalmers commended Mr Shorten’s announcement.

“One of my key priorities as a local member has been investment in the M1, a road I have lived next to or near for most of my life,’’ he said.

“I’m very pleased that we can make this commitment, which will make life easier for people in our local area.”

The road, which carries an average of around 145,000 cars a day, has been the subject of a funding tug of war between the state government and incumbent LNP federal government.

The State Government want an 80-20 funding split in their financial favour, but the Federal Government prefers a 50-50 split.