M1 announcement: Variable speed limits to be introduced by State Gov

THE days of gridlock on the M1 could be at an end, with the State Government to introduce new road rules which will affect speed limits. The Government says the measures will help lessen the number of traffic jams on the Pacific Motorway.

THE State Government is looking to introduce “variable speed limits” on the M1 to better deal with gridlock.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey last night told the Gold Coast Bulletin reduced limits would be enforced when traffic became congested on the Pacific Motorway section of the M1 between the northern Gold Coast and southern Brisbane.

The current maximum limits would remain when the state’s busiest road was relatively clear. He could not say when the new rule would come into effect, and rejected claims the move was a revenue grab.

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Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey. (AAP Image/Darren England)

The Government is making the changes after an independent review of the lower speed limits and metered ramping implemented during the Commonwealth Games in April.

Drivers would be told of the speed limits via electronic signs.

“We’re keeping the speed limits where they are in the sections where they are 110 and 100, but we’re looking at best-practice measures to reduce congestion and decrease travel time for people on the M1 and that involves having congestion-variable speed limits,” Mr Bailey said.

“It’s real time responses to traffic congestion via a 24/7 CCTV network.

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Mr Bailey said the empty roads during the Commonwealth Games were a result of good planning. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“As our officers see congestion they are able to respond using managed motorways technology where they can then adjust the speed limit down where traffic is starting to bank up.”

Mr Bailey said he aware that lowering speed limits to get drivers from A to B faster sounded illogical, but dropping limits produced better traffic flow and fewer accidents.

“It’s not about going slower, it’s bringing the maximum speed down so that it evens the traffic flow and that generally means that people get a faster journey,” he said.

“Merging is smoother, traffic flow is smoother because there is less of a differentiation between speeds and there are less lane changes.

Traffic at a standstill southbound on the M1 (AAP image, John Gass)

“One of the things that crunches traffic into a jam is crashes.

“So if you’ve got less crashes everyone benefits.

“The introduction of managed motorways on the Bruce Highway has also resulted in a congestion reduction during the morning peak from more than four and half hours to just over two hours.”

The Minister could not say when the changes would be brought in, but assured the public would be given plenty of notice.

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Mr Bailey said the new limits would be “enforced”. However, he denied the exercise was a revenue grab.

He said the Government would not increase the number of fixed speed cameras to catch drivers failing to adhere to new rules.

Mr Bailey said the managed motorways approach would also be integrated into the M1 major upgrades under construction at Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes and Gateway merge, as well as the work to the NSW border and Gateway merge northbound immediately after.