Gold Coast traffic: Full list of road upgrades funded in council budget

More than $160 million will be spent fixing Gold Coast road next year. But there’s $540 million more fixes to our heavily congested transport network coming, including a new arterial road. FULL LIST OF UPGRADES

THE Gold Coast’s northern suburbs are the focus of a $160 million worth of upgrades to the road network as thousands of people move to the fast-growing suburbs.

Mayor Tom Tate said the growing population meant the focus on the north was essential.

“You have to be a step of the game when it comes to population expansion and planning to spend that kind of record money, you have to do it,” he said.

”The north won out this round – That’s where the growth is.”

“In the next four years we have forecast a budget spend of more than $540 million.

“We have a plan and we are willing to execute it.

EVERY DIVISION LISTED - WHAT YOU GET IN COUNCIL BUDGET

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate bringing down the council budget for the year. Pic Tim Marsden

HOW NEW BRIDGE WILL SOLVE TRAFFIC SNARLS

“Now the Commonwealth Games are over we can move forward with our transport infrastructure.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said the road upgrades would help decongest the city’s north.

She said the work would continue with $544 million worth of transport projects to roll out between this year and 2023, including the Pimpama Western Service Road, a new arterial link which will connect Pacific Springs and Mirabeena drives.

Traffic congestion near IKEA and Coomera. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“There has been significant investment in the north of the city- we have seen growth which has been outstanding year on year, especially at Pimpama and the major investment in community facilities and the roads funding is very welcome,” she said.

“With the state’s announced improvements to the M1, we will try and co-ordinate our work to deliver our local upgrades to coincident with the major ones proposed via the state.”

Other already-announced major road projects included in yesterday’s budget were the $34 million upgrade of Southport’s Sundale Bridge to create a new lane and a new bridge between Isle of Capri and Surfers Paradise.

Traffic Congestion around Harbourtown. Picture Glenn Hampson

New Australian Bureau Statistics released last year revealed Pimpama is the third-fastest growing suburb in the country.

Council figures this year showed the Gold Coast’s population is growing much faster than previously thought and is now set to hit 1 million people by 2045.

More than 14,600 people are moving to the city annually.

Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce president Martin Brady said investment in the region was finally matching the growth.

Traffic congestionon the Pacific Motorway M1. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“This is great news because the Gold Coast’s north is a growth area and this has been recognised by both the State Government putting money into new schools and education facilities and through the council upgrading the roads,” he said.

“This is sorely needed and it is pleasing to see because you only have to look at the development at Yatala to see that this is the economic driver’s seat of the Coast.”

Rebecca Michael, RACQ head of public policy welcomed the spend.

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate yesterday. Pic Tim Marsden

“It is great to see money for Sundale Bridge and Isle of Capri projects along with funding for roads and intersections in the rapidly growing and congested areas around Ormeau, Pimpama, and Coomera,” she said.

“Reducing congestion on some parts of the Coast requires a co-ordinated effort. Projects like the Yawalpah Road duplication will help address a real bottleneck that motorists tell us grind their gears.

“But for the full benefit to be achieved, we need a funding agreement between the Federal and State governments for Exit 49 on the Pacific Motorway.”

THE ROAD AHEAD

MORE than $544 million will be spent on 54 transport projects over the next four years to manage congestion in the city. Working in some cases with the Federal and State governments, these include:

● Stage 3A of Gold Coast light rail.

● The Pimpama western service road linking Pacific Springs Drive and Mirambeena Drive.

● Widening Yawalpah Road to four lanes and a new bridge over the railway.

● 26km of new and shared paths.

●Upgrades to the Oceanway as well as creating Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Palm Beach and Main Beach.

● A ferry trial due to launch in December

EVERY ROAD, EVERY DOLLAR

Where the record $160.5 million of road upgrades is going next financial year:

● $25 million: Construction of new bridge across the Nerang River to Isle of Capri and upgrades to Via Roma-Gold Coast Highway intersection in Surfers Paradise.

● $23.4 million: Rollout of road rehabilitation and resealing program to renew road pavements and surfaces across the city.

● $15.6 million: Routine maintenance of city’s 3200km road network.

● $14.7 million: First stage of expansion of Sundale Bridge to five lanes and increase the capacity of Waterways Drive and Gold Coast Highway intersection.

● $14.1 million: Road reconstruction program to repair roads at the end of their useful life, including Pearson Rd, Yatala; Golden Four Dve, Tugun; Old Pacific Hwy, Yatala; and Boundary, Ward and Petrie streets, Coolangatta.

● $7.1 million: Renew and maintain various bridges across the city including Anabranch Bridge, Gold Coast Hwy; Chevron Island West Bridge; Cassowary Dve, Burleigh Waters; replace footbridge at Coplick Family Sports Park, Tallebudgera; Macintosh Island, Surfers Paradise.

● $6.8 million: Upgrade of Old Coach Rd from Kingsmore Boulevard to the former Reedy Creek motocross track, to improve safety and capacity.

● $6.3 million: Road and bridge duplication works in Yawalpah Rd, Pimpama.

● $1.8 million: Improve disability access across the city’s transport network.

● $1.5 million: Kirra Point boardwalk renewal.

● $1.2 million: Multi-year project to upgrade Old Coach Rd, Reedy Creek and extend Bermuda St through to Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Tallebudgera to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion.

● $1.2 million: Installation of traffic signals to replace the existing multi-lane roundabout at the intersection of Days and Old Coach roads, Upper Coomera.

● $850,000: Upgrade of intersection at Morala Avenue and Sports Drive, Runaway Bay, to install a roundabout.

● $840,000: Improvements to Hollywell Rd, Biggera Waters between Brisbane Rd and Wattle Avenue to increase road safety

● $820,000: Repairs to rock retaining wall on Armstrong Way, Highland Park.