Exit 41 at Yatala and Exit 49 at Pimpama: upgrades about begin

Work is about to begin on fixing two of the Pacific Motorway’s most notorious exits.

WORK is about to begin on fixing two of the Pacific Motorway’s most notorious exits where traffic backs up on the highway.

Surveyors will start work on upgrades at Exit 41 at Yatala and Exit 49 at Pimpama tomorrow, according to the Federal and State governments.

Frustrated motorists in suburban Gold Coast streets about to head to Exit 49 on the M1 at Pimpama. Photo: John Wolski.

Road and geotechnical crews are to start investigative works at the exits for the jointly-funded $192.6 million interchange upgrades.

The start of on-the-ground work follows the recent announcement of a deal between both levels of government which saw the Morrison Government fast-track its funding commitment.

Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge said the upgrades would bust congestion, improve safety and freight access on the key corridor.

“Funded through our Urban Congestion Fund, it will mean more synchronised travel from east to west and help protect motorists by reducing queue lengths coming onto the motorway,” Mr Tudge said.

“Additional lanes and new bridges across the motorway will improve eastbound and westbound traffic movements through the interchanges.”

Traffic map at Exit 41 Yatala, 8.30am, August 7, 2017.

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Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the work on the interchanges builds on $2.3 billion secured for four M1 upgrades between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

“Close to 150,000 Queenslanders are seeing progress on the M1 Pacific Motorway every day, with projects aimed at tackling congestion and creating more than 2,000 jobs,” Mr Bailey said.

“This is one of the city’s fastest growing areas, and these upgrades are about making sure that truckies, tradies and families can spend less time getting on and off the M1, and more time doing the important things.”

Forde MP Bert van Manen has welcomed the start of work, knowing it would ease traffic congestion and would take the pressure off commuters in his electorate.

Exit 49 photograph from Coomera MP Michael Crandon on off ramps crowding on the northern end of the Pacific Motorway at peak hour.

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“This is what our local community and motorists have been asking for and I’m glad the Federal and State governments were able to work together to get the job done sooner rather than later,” Mr van Manen said.

The early works will include road, geotechnical, pavement and public utility surveys, and are expected to be completed by mid-2020.

The Australian Government is contributing more than $1.8 billion towards upgrading the M1 Pacific Motorway.