Fast growth northern suburbs are winners from record $100 million City transport budget

The Gold Coast’s worst-congested roads are about to get unblocked in a record $100 million spend - but there is a catch.

Northern Gold Coast residents are being told to brace for short-term traffic pain as council begins a record $100 million upgrade of the city’s worst congested roads.

The 2024/25 City budget contains a transport funding blitz on roads and infrastructure at Ormeau, Pimpama, Yatala and Jacobs Well.

Councillor Mark Hammel said the budget spend shows the City’s commitment to meeting the growing infrastructure requirements in the northern suburbs:

“What we have seen over the past few years is a residential and industrial boom in the far north, and it’s now time to get the infrastructure in place that the area needs,” Cr Hammel said.

“Construction just recently commenced on the full duplication of Yawalpah Road - now we have a number of other major roads and intersections in the program as well.

“I apologise in advance to local residents – you are going to be sitting in a lot of roadworks over the coming years – I hope the short-term pain will be worth the long-term benefits.”

Gold Coast City Council 2024 Budget - Eggersdorf Road, one of several in the north to be upgraded.

The key upgrades include:

* Eggersdorf Road, Pearson Road, Stanmore Road, Tillyroen Road, Burnside Road, Peachey Road, Pimpama West Service Road and Quinns Hill Road East;

* intersections at Creek Street/Reedmans Road, Mebbin Street/Old Pacific Highway, Elderslie Road/Stanmore Road, Pimpama Jacobs Well Road/Wharf Road and Goldmine Road/Lahrs Road.

Gold Coast City Council 2024 Budget - Mebbin Road, one of several in the north to be upgraded.

“Too many of these roads are old, rural roads and intersections that require major upgrades to meet modern day usage,” Cr Hammel said.

“This is an investment of over $100 million in critical road and intersection upgrades - a dollar figure that in itself speaks to how serious the City is about improving this area of the Gold Coast.

“This is a massive investment in 2024/25 that will have to be repeated for the next few financial years to finish the job off.

“While there is a big focus on new and upgraded infrastructure there is also a focus on the renewal of existing assets such as the resurfacing of roads.”

Some roads are being upgraded to accept heavy truck traffic, he added.

Cr Hammel said he was proud as a Division 1 representative to see the investment in the north.

“While I acknowledge the State’s investment at Exit 41 and Exit 49, until we see the same

investment at Exit 38 and Exit 45 and a commitment to the entire Coomera Connector, the

congestion-busting capability of these local upgrades can’t be fully realised,” he said.

Gold Coast City Council 2024 Budget - Peachey Road, to be upgraded in the north.

“I will continue to advocate on behalf of the local community for this necessary State Government investment.”

The State Government on Tuesday will deliver its budget which is expected to address continued funding of sections of the Coomera Connector.

Latest data show the Coast’s worst traffic congestion continues to occur in the north of the city, with the south easing due to major roadworks being completed on the Pacific Motorway.

Gold Coast City Council 2024 Budget - huge boost to roads in the north, including Yawalpah Road, where works are underway.

Six congestion hot spots have been identified, showing roads in Gold Coast suburbs operating at 40 or 50 per cent capacity during peak traffic ­periods.

They include hot spot transport links include Yawalpah Road, westbound from Swan Road to the M1, for both morning and afternoon peak. This is due to congestion from the M1 interchange Exit 49.

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