Drive home worse than commute to work as Bulletin team hits the M1

EVERYONE knows how bad the drive on the M1 between the Gold Coast and Brisbane is. But here’s why the drive home is actually worse than the drive to work.

THE most important task for Gold Coasters about to tackle the peak-hour rush for the commute to Brisbane is checking the traffic report.

Goldcoastbulletin.com.au, radio traffic reports and Google live maps provide an accurate prediction of how long your trip will take.

THE EYE-WATERING COST OF A SECOND M1

The M1 morning run is a sprint until Beenleigh and then a crawl at Springwood.

The Coast to Brisbane trip when the M1 was first widened to eight lanes could take just 45 minutes.

As a Bulletin reporting team leave the Helensvale railway station at 7am the prediction on websites is 70 minutes, almost double the time.

THE M1 TRADIE RUSH STARTS AT 4AM

This is on a clear run with no reported crashes or congestion ahead. Regular motorists always allow for at least 90 minutes.

At Oxenford the traffic is steady as a stream of cars merge from the Coomera Overflow bridge on the western side of the M1.

The horror afternoon run on the Reedy Creek exit heading northbound on the M1.

The smooth run continues to Beenleigh where drivers for the first time slow from 110km/h to 90km/h as the eight lanes are reduced.

What happens next is a lottery.

HOW I LEAVE LATER AND ARRIVE EARLIER

A sign flashing on the left-hand side of the motorway cautions drivers to expect delays. At Loganlea the traffic is becoming increasingly congested.

At this point, the wave of Coast traffic meets the other northern wave from Logan. In 20 years it will be 120,000 vehicles-strong, all heading to the CBD.

At Springwood, vehicles on all the northbound lanes into Brisbane hit the brakes. Just 30 minutes after driving on to the highway, it becomes a parking lot.

But the flashing traffic management signs allow you to start calculating your CBD arrival. The drive from the Gateway Arterial Road suggests eight minutes. It will take slightly longer.

JEFF KENNETT SLAMS M1

The speed drops from 60km/h to 40km/h, cars are stopping in front, others moving quickly past to the right and the left lanes. Your eyes are everywhere, feet on the brakes and clutch.

A sign ahead warns of a crash. The only sign of trouble is a vehicle parked on the side of the M1.

On the Captain Cook Bridge, enjoy the view of the river and Southbank. You will have plenty of time to absorb it.

The first part of your daily commute has taken one hour and 10 minutes.

The trip home, in the midafternoon by comparison, is a horror show.

At 3.16pm on the M1 southbound through Nerang the speed is around 80km/h.

Vehicles are jostling across all lanes, this is the tradie rush hour and everyone either wants to get home or to pick up children at school.

At the Robina turn-off the speed drops dramatically with vehicle speed below 60km/h through the section of M1 known as the Robina car park.

Gold Coast motorists warned to expect delays as they head into Brisbane.

Around the Reedy Creek exits, cars are at a standstill, side roads are full as parents pick up their children from large schools in the area.

Heading northbound on a ramp back on to the Pacific Motorway, all the vehicles stop.

From here to Nerang a pattern emerges — speeds of 100km/h, a drop to 20km/h before an exit ramp and finally everyone stops as cars join the M1 from an exit ramp.