M1 upgrade Gold Coast: Next stage of Burleigh to Palm Beach upgrade of Pacific Motorway completed

Southern Gold Coast residents have titled the $1.5bn M1 upgrade “a joke” after a major milestone has been reached. Find out what it means for you

The widening of the M1 between Burleigh and Palm Beach has been completed, with the next stage of extra lanes to open this week.

The 3km section of the Pacific Motorway, including the upgraded Exit 89 will see a range of new features in the latest section of the $1.5bn project.

Extra lanes and a 55m-long fauna underpass, which is 15m wide and 5m high will open, while a temporary side road between Tallebudgera Creek Road and Tsipura Drive, will be closed.

Photo of the newly completed widening of the M1 between Burleigh and Palm Beach. Picture: Supplied

State Transport Minister Bart Mellish said the completion of works would make a difference for motorists.

“This is great news for M1 drivers who have been watching this project take shape,” he said.

“(The first section) of Varsity Lakes to Burleigh was opened in 2022, and now the recent opening of the northbound lanes north of Tallebudgera Interchange has given motorists a sneak peak of the changes about to take place along the Burleigh to Palm Beach section.

“Additional lanes are about to open up in both directions and the speed limit will increase back to 100km/h.

Photo of the newly completed widening of the M1 between Burleigh and Palm Beach. Picture: Supplied

“I’m proud to see traffic flowing on these new widened lanes and new bridges, which has not been an easy feat to achieve on such a major project in a live traffic environment.”

A 3m-wide “active transport path” running along the western side of the M1 between Exit 87 and Exit 89 will open before Christmas.

Despite the “great news”, southern Gold Coast residents said they were concerned about increased congestion along Guineas Creek Rd and Tallebudgera Connection Rd.

“Why would you remove access from Tallebudgera Creek Rd. That makes no sense,” Gerhard Loots said on Facebook.

While other residents said the project was taking too long, calling it a “joke”.

“Does this take first prize for the longest roadworks in Qld history for such a small section of highway,” Damien Kirchner said.

Gary Roberts added: “Transport and Main Roads Queensland, you have been working on this stretch of road for years.”

“Seriously this is a joke,” Glen Anderson commented.

Photo of the newly completed widening of the M1 between Burleigh and Palm Beach. Picture: Supplied

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the upgrade would benefit the more than 90,000 vehicles which use the road daily.

“It’s fantastic to see the new widened lanes between Burleigh and Palm Beach about to open, which will bring increased capacity and network efficiencies to Gold Coast residents,” she said.

“This is just one of the many improvements the Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade will deliver for the Gold Coast.”