Revealed: M1’s ‘missing link’ plans to stop gridlock ahead of Olympics

A $1 billion proposal to widen a 10km “Missing link” in the M1 south of Brisbane has been revealed, with calls for public opinion on the project. WATCH THE VIDEO

An investigation into the best way to widen and improve a 10km “missing link” in the southeast’s most important motorway is underway, as the state gears up for the 2032 Olympics.

The $1 billion project to widen the M1 between Daisy Hill and the Logan Motorway, will be the third phase of the road’s upgrade.

The missing link was hailed as the motorway’s slowest stretch of road in 2019.

The works include widening the motorway, extending the South East Busway to Springwood, a new bus station and park ‘n’ ride at Rochdale and continuing the M1 cycleway.

The proposal is for adding lanes to the stretch of road that passes the busy Hyperdome shopping centre at Loganholme and turn-off to the bayside suburbs and Redland City.

Extending the South East Busway will mean more frequent buses between Springwood bus station and Mandew St, at the Hyperdome.

Park-and-ride facilities and bus stations will be built at Chatswood Rd and on Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd.

Those travelling to or from the Logan Hospital will be able to use a new bus station at Loganlea Rd.

There will also be major upgrades to road interchanges at Daisy Hill’s Paradise Rd and Mandew St, and at Tanah Merah’s Grandis St and Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd.

The upgrade proposal also includes a 9km cycleway extension to connect to the existing bikeway at Eight Mile Plains.

The Paradise Rd upgrade at Slacks Creek, opposite Ikea.

State and federal governments will split the bill for the works, which will start after the $750 million Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill upgrade is completed.

State Transport Minister Mark Bailey said more than 27,000 trips were expected to be made between Daisy Hill and the Logan Motorway each day by 2041.

“Without upgrades this will leave the M1 at a standstill,” Mr Bailey said.

“Integral to this project is the active transport improvements built into the design, which will see the veloway extended to 30km.

“Connecting Brisbane to the Logan Motorway via the veloway is an important link in our vision of having a dedicated active transport corridor from Brisbane to the New South Wales border.

“This package rounds out our nearly $2 billion program of works on the M1 to the north, so I encourage local drivers and commuters to check out the plans and have their say.”

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, whose Rankin electorate covers parts of Logan, said both tiers of government needed to gauge what local motorists wanted before designs were completed.

A park-and-ride facility will be built on Beenleigh Redland Bay Rd as part of the $1b project.

“Before we get started on the next stage, it’s important that we get a better sense of what locals think about the project and what they hope it will deliver,” he said.

“I encourage anyone in our community with a view to get involved and provide feedback which will help the Department of Transport and Main Roads to incorporate local views in the final phase of planning.”

Transport advocate group Rail Back on Track’s Robert Dow said the proposal had good and bad points.

“We are concerned about how the existing infrastructure will hold up during the Olympics if there is no upgrades to the public transport networks before then,” he said.

“Building more roads is not the solution – it will only lead to more road congestion – we need better public transport.”

Consultation for phase 3 of the M1 upgrade ends on November 27.

Originally published as Revealed: M1’s ‘missing link’ plans to stop gridlock ahead of Olympics