Paul Weston: How to fix the Gold Coast’s worst summer beach traffic jam

Do you go back to the past to find a solution in the future to the Gold Coast’s worst summer beach traffic jam?

THE Gold Coast’s biggest traffic jam is the summer ride from the suburbs to The Spit. Council has unveiled the start of a $15 million bridge and road upgrade. But will it be enough to fix gridlock?

The cost across four years will be $31 million, featuring seven set pieces.

Heavy traffic in Southport heading south towards the Sundale Bridge. Picture: Michael Saunders.

A northbound lane will be added to the Sundale Bridge by removing the pedestrian walkway and tightening existing lanes. The roundabout outside the Southport Yacht Club changed for lights.

A “free” left-hand turn lane will make it easier to leave Main Beach to return to the bridge, and at that turn-off a third right-hand turning lane will allow more cars to head north along the Gold Coast Highway to Southport.

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Council engineers say the upgrades will accommodate the new Central Park as part of The Spit master plan, even handle the arrivals from a planned cruise ship terminal.

Artist impressions of Sundale bridge upgrade on the Gold Coast.

But many motorists disagree. So does veteran councillor Dawn Crichlow, saying the extra bridge lane should be southbound to help more traffic headed to the beach.

Which leads the debate to alternatives and submissions not revealed in The Spit master plan process.

Previously, the proposed ASF project at Wavebreak Island put up a traffic solution of a bridge from Brisbane Road across to the development and a tunnel to the end of The Spit.

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Former councillor Grant Pforr, who made a submission to Spit master planners, suggests that would create hydraulic issues. Better to connect a bridge from Labrador to Main Beach.

“By coming directly off the M1-Smith Street road network, this will divert some traffic away from the already congested Queen St, Sundale Bridge and Main Beach areas,” he wrote.

Artist impression of the proposed "Brunnel" Hybrid bridge-tunnel which was considered to assist in traffic movement for the ASF development. Pictures supplied by the State Government.

How would it be funded? A public-private partnership linked to a superyacht resort development. Other suggestions included a gondola from the Broadwater Parklands.

“The reality is no amount of ferry service or light rail feeders will ever deal with the increased visitations to The Spit that our current population allows let alone the planned 1.2 million, double our current permanent residents, estimated to live here in 2030-40,” Mr Pforr says.

Councillor Crichlow, who knows the area better than most, does not believe the current upgrades will be adequate. She supports a new bridge.

“You know the old Jubilee Bridge used to go across to the western side of the yacht club,” she says. “It was even suggested a few years ago that we do that again, having another Jubilee Bridge. I think it’s a much better suggestion.”

Save Our Spit, also heavily involved in The Spit master planning sessions, is opposed to a light rail connection, preferring an extra bus lane to the Seaway. Some members believe a gondola is “ludicrous”.

The early days of Sundale Bridge. Photo: City Libraries Local Studies Collection.

But there is support for a flyover bridge. Could this be a repeat of heavy rail? We tore up the line to Brisbane only to rebuild it. Could it be that what was once old and removed, can be new again and work a treat?

Looking through the council report, the concluding remarks refer to a section on upgrading the Sundale Bridge barriers. All of it a subplot to what resonates for this fast-growing city.

The bridge was originally designed and constructed circa 1965.

If the Gold Coast needs a monument to showcase infrastructure delay, take a slow drive on the Sundale Bridge.