New Jubilee Bridge and widened roads through Southport key to ASF’s Spit traffic solution

THE company behind a massive casino resort planned for The Spit says it will build a new bridge over the Nerang River as part of a traffic plan costing at least $100 million.

ASF consortium's supplied images of their Gold Coast Integrated Resort with proposed hotel, casino resort development to be built on land between Sea World and Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast

THE company behind a massive casino resort planned for The Spit says it will build a new bridge over the Nerang River as part of a traffic plan costing at least $100 million.

Southport’s major arterial roads would also be widened to six lanes and intersections heavily altered to cope with increased traffic associated with ASF Consortium’s $3 billion integrated resort.

ASF plans to widen North Street, build a new Jubilee Bridge and improve intersections on The Spit in the first stage. Scroll down for the full list of key plans.

Artist Impression of the Jubilee Bridge with the integrated resort.

BRIDGE TOUTED AS SPIT TRAFFIC WOES CURE

The traffic and transport plan, developed with the State Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads and Gold Coast City Council, would be delivered in two stages with the first costing more than $100 million.

Heavy traffic along the Sundale bridge heading to the Spit has been the bane of motorists in recent years. Photo: Regi Varghese

CROWN THE HOT TIP FOR SPIT CASINO

The first stage would be created over an 18-month period between 2018 and 2021 simultaneously with construction of the resort and include:

• A new four-lane Jubilee Bridge which would accommodate buses, cars, bikes and pedestrians.

• Widening of Southport’s North Street from four to six lanes between Gold Coast Highway and High Street.

• Redevelopment of intersections at Waterways Drive-MacArthur Parade to include traffic lights, as well as along SeaWorld Drive and Queen Street-Gold Coast Highway.

• A new intersection on Waterways Drive where the new bridge would connect to Main Beach.

The second stage would include widening the Gold Coast Highway from four to six lanes between North and Queen streets.

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It would also contain options for a light rail spur line from Main Beach to Sea World and a ferry system connecting Southport, Main Beach, Mariner’s Cove, Sea World and the ASF resort.

A tram link is an option section of the traffic plan. Picture Mike Batterham

The Bulletin understands the light rail link has been costed at between $100 and $150 million and that ASF would fund construction should the council and State Government approve the line.

ASF Director Louis Chien said the plan had been developed to cope with current traffic congestion as well as future growth.

“The first stage of the plan will support the delivery and ongoing operation of the integrated resort development and will ease congestion in the area, while the strategy for the second stage looks to accommodate the future growth of the city’s traffic,” he said.

ASF director Louis Chien. Photo: David Clark

“In addition to road and intersection upgrades, our proposed plan includes delivery of a bridge as a core piece of infrastructure, which has the potential to become an iconic legacy the city will truly be proud of.”

Traffic modelling was conducted in the area over several months in late 2016 in consultation with council and state traffic staff.

Under the plans, the new bridge, which would be built where the original Jubilee Bridge stood in the early 20th century, would become the major thoroughfare to Main Beach and Spit, relieving the frequently congested Sundale Bridge.

Flashback to the original Jubilee Bridge shortly before its demolition after it was replaced by Sundale Bridge. Photos provided courtesy of the City Libraries Local Studies Collection.

Traffic engineer and transport planner Damien Bitzios developed the plan.

“We believe the plan will improve a number of pinch points around Main Beach and the Broadwater and assist to manage congestion pressures well in to the future,” he said.

A potential pedestrian link will be considered in the second stage.

Heavy traffic along Waterways Drive, Main Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams.

The five-tower resort, earmarked for a 5ha south of Sea World, would have an underground basement carpark.

The casino and integrated resort project has proven controversial with environmentalists and locals who have expressed concerns about traffic and the project’s size — significantly above the area’s three-storey height limit.

Artist impression of the proposed public piazza.

The integrated resort will be the subject of community consultation set to begin as early as next month before a detailed submission is sent to the State Government midyear.

Community groups have vowed to fight it.

Among the features of the project would be a public piazza featuring restaurants and conference facilities overlooking the Broadwater, as well as a 1200-seat amphitheatre.

ASF’s traffic solution

Map of ASF Consortium’s proposed traffic solution. Green sections is stage 1, Orange is stage 2, Red is the light rail, Yellow is the ferry and purple is the potential pedestrian link at Southport.

STAGE 1:

1: North Street expansion from four lanes to six between the Gold Coast Highway to High Street

2: North Street-Gold Coast Highway intersection upgrade

3: New bridge western intersection with connections to and from the north

4: Construction of new four lane Nerang River Bridge to accommodate buses, cars, bikes and

pedestrians

5: New bridge eastern intersection with connections to and from the east

6: Waterways Drive-MacArthur Parade Intersection upgrades to traffic lights

7: Intersection upgrades along Sea World Drive

STAGE 2:

8: Increase Gold Coast Highway from four to six lanes from North Street to Queen Street

9: Add dual left lanes from Gold Coast Highway to North Street and dual right turn lanes from North Street to Gold Coast Highway

STAGE 2 (OPTIONAL):

10: Opportunity for Light Rail spur from Gold Coast Highway to Sea World

11: Opportunity for a Broadwater Ferry Route and Terminals at Southport, Tedder Avenue, Mariner’s

Cove, Sea World and the Gold Coast Integrated Resort

12: Pedestrian Link form Southport to the Broadwater Parklands

A ferry terminal is included in the concept design of the integrated resort and casino.