M1 Pimpama exit safety upgrade divides residents

IT’S one of the Gold Coast’s most notorious M1 exits, with motorists often waiting 20 minutes just to crawl 150m. But now that it’s being upgraded, residents are divided on how useful the upgrade really is.

THE State Government is about to start safety works on upgrading the notorious Pimpama exit on the Pacific Motorway.

But the announcement has divided residents in the city’s fast-growing northern corridor, with some applauding the road improvement plan for Exit 49 and others saying it will only add to their peak-hour traffic nightmare.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said work on the $1.5 million short-term project was about to start.

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Congestion at on and off ramps at Pimpama from the M1 has been a big issue for several years. Photo by Richard Gosling

The Gold Coast Bulletin this month revealed a council report using intersection surveys and seven-day “tube counts” that showed congestion was being caused by motorists driving across the interchange bridges. Some are waiting 23 minutes to crawl 150m.

“These works will create more capacity at the northbound off-ramp and also involve the installation of roundabout metering at the Rifle Range Rd and Yawalpah Rd roundabouts,” Mr Bailey said.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the upgrade will create more capacity on the northbound off-ramp. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“Roundabout metering technology will control the flow of traffic at the roundabouts and reduce the need for motorists to queue on the M1 shoulder, which we often see at peak hour.

“This project is in addition to the half-a-million dollars the Palaszczuk Government has invested for planning to complete major upgrades at this exit and Exit 45 at Ormeau.

POOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT HINDERING PIMPAMA’S DISADVANTAGED

“As well, business cases are now underway for Exit 38 Yatala North and Exit 41 Yatala South with $4.2 million committed, while as per our 2017 election promise we are investing $25 million to upgrade the Oxenford Interchange.”

Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates alerted residents to the upgrade via her official Facebook page. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

Mr Bailey predicted works at Exit 49 would be completed by the end of the year.

Area councillor and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates alerted residents on her official Facebook page that the safety upgrade would start Friday week.

“I understand the signal system is to be installed to help manage queuing back on to the M1,’’ Cr Gates wrote.

Department of Main Roads said additional capacity would be created on the northbound off-ramp at the entry to the interchange by extending the width of the corridor.

Tradies accessing the Yatala industrial estate have to queue at peak hour on the M1, and changes should enable more vehicles to be accommodated on the off-ramp rather than the highway.

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The flow of traffic would be controlled by new traffic signals on both the Yawalpah Rd and Rifle Range Rd roundabouts.

The major work will be undertaken at night, from 7pm-4am, with only minor jobs conducted in the day.

Some residents responding to the post by Cr Gates welcomed the announcement, with one saying it was “great news – so dangerous the queuing in the emergency lanes on the M1 both north and south at Exit 49”.

But many drivers advised Cr Gates that a similar use of metering at the Ormeau exit had not worked.

“Exit signalling has been a disaster for residents at Exit 45, stuffed up the local traffic,” a resident wrote.

Cr Gates told residents: “My position is for information only but clearly it’s a State project.”