Revealed: Delays on the Coomera Connector to add to M1 congestion
The Coomera Connector is facing major delays in construction with the only vehicles in the corridor during its planned opening date of 2024 likely to be bulldozers. FULL DETAILS >>>
Northern
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THE only vehicles likely to be on the Coomera Connector for its planned opening date of 2024 are bulldozers because of major delays to construction, the Opposition warns.
The Palaszczuk government is expected to be grilled during Transport Estimates hearings on Tuesday about the time line for the $1.5bn highway.
Revealed: Crucial missing detail about Coomera Connector
Transport and Main Roads director-general Neil Scales told last year’s Estimates hearing that cars would be on the second M1 “in stages from 2024”.
But this year’s State Budget papers show only $115m is being provided to begin construction of the first stage between Nerang and Coomera.
The Opposition will target the government on the slow burn spend, with $650m allocated for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 budgets. City councillors were told at a briefing late last year that work would begin on the six-lane highway in mid-2021.
Coomera Connector: New images of second M1 revealed with construction ‘just around the corner’
The road is estimated to take 60,000 cars off the congested Pacific Motorway.
“The state government is losing control of this vital infrastructure project while Gold Coast motorists cop more delays and excuses,” Opposition leader David Crisafulli.
“We were assured during Estimates last year that we’d have a ‘second M1’ by mid-2024 and I want the government to honour this commitment.
“Almost half the project costs is buried beyond the next four years and that’s bad news for the economy and lifestyle of one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. We deserve cars driving on this road in 2024, not excavators still moving dirt.
“We will be asking questions about the hold-up, but, more importantly, about ways the project can be accelerated so it’s not another broken promise.”
Shock traffic count: Coomera Connector will double amount of cars in Gold Coast suburb
Australian and New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline reports the suggest the completion date for the first stage of second M1 will be December 2024.
The government’s Transport Department update on the project shows early works construction started in mid-2021 and its status remains “pre-construction”.
Briefings to councillors suggested traffic on the Pacific Motorway late last year had returned to pre-Covid levels with 230,000 vehicles using the highway on peak days.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has repeatedly defended the planning and 10-year build on the highway, accusing the LNP of blocking its progress under former Premier Campbell Newman.
He has told the Bulletin the Opposition was quick to complain “but at least Labor is getting the job done on the second M1”.
‘Don’t let them do it again’: Fears key Coast projects will be dumped
The Gold Coast’s sole Labor MP insists she’s not under pressure in her own seat as she accused the LNP of planning to cut key Gold Coast infrastructure projects.
Trucks, Harleys and hotted up cars: Locals spill on M1 torment
People living near the M1 on the northern Gold Coast say their lives are being made a misery – but a solution may finally be in sight. Full details.