Southern section build begins on second M1 as workers stabilise Nerang River banks

The state and federal governments have revealed a major step forward for the most southern stage of the $3 billion Coomera Connector. Find out the details.

Early works have begun on the most southern stage of the $3 billion Coomera Connector, after early construction of the second M1 had focused on northern river crossings.

The first part of the construction will involve ensuring soft soils around the Nerang River embankments can be built up and stabilised to handle future infrastructure.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon on Wednesday inspected the set up of a contractor’s site access and compound, before earthworks started.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon look over plans for the Coomera Connector

The tender for major construction on Stage 1 South package has been released to market.

The early works program includes ensuring the site is construction-ready through the relocation of service utilities, earthworks and preloading activities to be undertaken which will assist in the next stage of construction, they said.

The areas south of the Nerang River will be the focus, where new embankment and excess material will be placed on the existing ground for approximately six months to consolidate and increase the bearing capacity for the underlying soft soils.

Once settled, the excess embankment will be removed and this stage of the Coomera Connector motorway will be ready for major construction.

Artist impression of the Smith Street interchange of the Coomera Connector on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

Department officers expect these early works will be completed by late 2025. The previous work has been around Hope Island and the Coomera River.

The main construction tender released to market has narrowed down the preferred contractors to a list of three – and provided construction input into the final design.

These three contractors will now undertake detailed assessment, looking at innovative ways to construct this section of the Coomera Connector, the department says.

An award of the main construction contract is expected in early 2025.

The Albanese and Miles governments have committed a total of $3.026 billion to plan and construct the Coomera Connector Stage 1 between Coomera and Nerang.

This includes an additional $864 million committed by both the Australian and Queensland governments to deliver the project.

This investment is estimated to support an average of 1000 direct jobs over the life of the project.

Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector is expected to open progressively to traffic from late 2025.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said starting works on Stage 1 South of the Coomera Connector was a “fantastic milestone”.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Tender for major construction on this package of work has also just gone to market,” he said.

“As the Gold Coast continues to grow, we’re getting on with the job of building a future-proofed road that will connect communities and get people home safer and sooner. Make no mistake, there wouldn’t be a second M1 under the LNP.

“The Newman-Crisafulli government cut the Coomera Connector from planning and didn’t even preserve a road corridor. If they had had their way, Gold Coasters would be paying the price for their poor planning for years to come.”

Ms Scanlon, the Gaven MP, said she had committed to building the second M1 due to the continuing congestion on the Pacific Motorway.

Gold Coast-based Minister Meaghan Scanlon. Picture by Richard Gosling.

“Already more one million hours have been worked on building it, and now people in our community will see machinery on the ground in Nerang,” she said.

“This is a project that will cut travel time and keep hundreds of thousands of Gold Coasters moving. It’s a stark contrast to the LNP who cut $100 million from road projects in our city and mothballed the second M1 when David Crisafulli was a cabinet minister.”

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King estimates the the Coomera Connector will reduce 10 minutes of the commute between Coomera and Southport.

Catherine King MP. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

“It means less time stuck in traffic and more time with your loved ones,” she said, after inspecting site works at Nerang.

“We know that road congestion is a significant issue for the region and a drain on the economy which is why we’re getting on with delivering this critical piece of infrastructure,” she added.

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