Commuters stuck in the mire of holiday traffic with 16km of Gridlock from Merrimac to Currumbin

If you plan on travelling along the M1 today allow for some delays as the M1 is once again bogged down in holiday traffic.

COMMUTERS are once again stuck on the M1, with traffic moving at a snail’s pace.

The Pacific Highway has been bogged down in traffic for much of the Christmas holidays and today there is a cornucopia of cars from Worongary to Currumbin in the southbound lane.

There have been no reported accidents along that stretch of road.

Queensland Traffic hotline 13 19 40 warns motorists to add to their planned travel time due to the congestion.

The delays come after a horrible four days around Christmas.

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander blamed a “lack of investment” from the Palaszczuk Government for the traffic misery.

Somerset drive overpass, Robina where traffic is often blocked up due to roadworks. (AAP image, John Gass)

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“Queenslanders just want to relax with their friends and family, but many will be spending hours stuck in traffic because of our growing congestion crisis,” Mr Mander said.

“Unlike Annastacia Palaszczuk, the LNP has a plan to beat this massive problem.

“We’re committed to upgrading the M1 and to building a second M1 to cut congestion between the Gold Coast and Brisbane ­— our two biggest cities.”

However Minister for Transport Mark Bailey told the Bulletin earlier this month that the state government was investing heavily.

“We’re upgrading exits 38, 41, 45 and 49, with a half a million dollars advancing the required planning for the Exit 45 at Ormeau Exit 49 at Pimpama,” he said.

Traffic on the M1 is once again in a log jam as holiday-makers head home.

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“We now see traffic queues backing up on the M1 at major exits because the previous LNP government’s cuts ignored the necessary planning and investment needed to manage the northern Gold Coast’s growth.

“These interchange upgrades are an important part of our fully funded M1 commitment to build at least six lanes wide from Brisbane to the New South Wales border.

“Four fully funded M1 upgrades worth $2.3 billion have been announced under the Palaszczuk Government and work has started on two of those upgrades after no upgrades happened under the LNP.”

Cornucopia is the collective noun for slugs.