Gold Coast MPs Mark Boothman, David Crisafulli launch petition calling for upgrade to M1 Exit 57

A $25 million upgrade to a major Gold Coast intersection is little more than a “band aid fix” according to a Queensland MP – who has now unveiled how he plans to get it sorted.

A $25 MILLION upgrade to a major Gold Coast intersection is a “band aid fix”, according to a Queensland MP.

Theodore MP Mark Boothman on Wednesday launched a petition calling for a “future proof” fix to Oxenford interchange Exit 57.

It comes as a multimillion-dollar upgrade combating heavy congestion and improving safety on the off-ramp is due to be completed in September.

The strip of road has long been a source of frustration. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese)

But Mr Boothman believes it won’t be enough to handle growing development in the area.

“We need to actually go back and see if it needs to have flyovers, if it needs bypass roads,” he said.

“It’s going to cost a lot of money but it needs to be done, because we’ve got the Oxenford residential estate (nearby).

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“Potentially that’s 2000 new dwellings in the area, 4000 cars with an average of two cars per household.

“We need to put the infrastructure in to allow that growth.”

BJM Mechanical Mufflers & Tyres owner Alan Gardner was the first signature. Photo: Supplied

His petition, which has also gained the support of Broadwater MP David Crisafulli, calls for a permanent solution to the intersection.

Though he couldn’t provide a specific number, he said he wanted “as many signatures as possible” to back his case for another upgrade.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the petition was more “persistent negativity” from LNP MPs.

“It is in fact Labor that’s investing in M1 upgrades from Tugun to the Gateway Merge, with two upgrades complete and open and two more underway,” he said.

“While the LNP indulge in tedious tyre kicking, Labor gets on with building a better M1 at Oxenford Exit 57.

“(The upgrade) has been designed to double capacity and simplify traffic movements so traffic passes through it more quickly.

“It’s one of the busiest M1 interchanges and has traffic unsafely queuing back on the M1 off-ramps after the Newman Government ignored the interchange when in power.”