Coomera Connector: State Government promises $700M for arterial road just weeks before the election
More than $750 million has been committed to the first stage of the Coomera connector. Hundreds of jobs will be created, with work set to begin much sooner than expected.
Gold Coast
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More than $700 million has been committed to the first stage of the Coomera connector.
The state and federal governments have signed a deal to build the first stage of the arterial road between Nerang and Coomera.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Transport Minister Mark Bailey made the announcement this morning at Burleigh Heads.
The funding, coming three weeks before the state election, is the first cash put toward the project. Several hundred jobs are expected to be created.
The Palaszczuk and Morrison governments will go 50/50 on funding the project, with the federal commitment to be included in next month’s budget.
The first stage of the works, set to begin in mid-2021 will see the 16km arterial road built between Metricon Stadium at Nerang and the Coomera marine precinct.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Coomera Connector would take more than 60,000 cars off the M1.
A further $78 million has also been committed to upgrading Ormeau’s Exit 45, the intersection of Currumbin Creek Road and Bienvenue Street and the Coomera park ‘n’ ride.
Coomera MP Michael Crandon hit back insisting the project had not received federal funding.
“For the past two and a half years we have been calling for action on the Coomera connector,” he said.
“We made a commitment of $550 million and now, coming late to the part and stealing our home work again is the state government who has jumped the gun.
“Nothing has been signed and I am told the federal government is to still going through the business case.
“This is a desperate government which realises they are stuck in the slow lane when it comes to infrastructure particularly on the northern Gold Coast.”
Originally published as Coomera Connector: State Government promises $700M for arterial road just weeks before the election