Gold Coast cross-town traffic — it’s getting harder to get through

MOTORISTS have been advised to allow extra travel time to drive from, well, anywhere to anywhere along the Glitter Strip as bumper holiday crowds and roadworks clog the Gold Coast.

Southbound traffic along the Gold Coast Highway. Photo: Jerad Williams

TRYING to get to the other side of town?

As Jimi Hendrix might sing, expect the cross-town traffic to slow you down.

Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time to drive from, well, anywhere to anywhere along the Glitter Strip this week.

The Gold Coast 600 V8s track build and a swag of roadworks and closures have combined with school holiday crowds to choke the city by day and after dark.

People enjoying the sun and sand at Burleigh Beach: Holidaymaker traffic is adding to the city’s traffic woes. Photo: Jerad Williams

Work to upgrade Surf Parade has stalled motorists in and around Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise is regularly gridlocked as roadwork continues at various sites, including on the Esplanade.

Full and partial road closures have also affected traffic in and around Main Beach as the GC600 track build continues.

Much of the major work is being carried out overnight when the light rail is not operating.

Gold Coast 600 event manager Melissa Stephens said event organisers were in daily contact with residents and property managers in the affected areas to let them know where and when works will be carried out to minimise disruptions.

People enjoying the sun and sand at Burleigh Beach on Wednesday. Photo: Jerad Williams

“We will continue to do our utmost to minimise congestion around our works in the Main Beach area,” she said.

Major work along Bermuda St at Broadbeach Waters has caused lengthy delays, with traffic choking the busy arterial in both directions during peak hours.

Changed traffic conditions have also jammed all lanes in both directions along a section of Southport-Burleigh Road.

On the M1, motorists can expect delays from Palm Beach and Burleigh Heads northbound towards Nerang and in and around the Coomera Interchange near Exit 54.

School holiday traffic has also seen the M1 congested from Springwood to Palm Beach, with traffic reduced to 60km/h for long periods during the day.

Big delays were also experience by motorists travelling southbound on Wednesday after a gravel truck lost its load at Helensvale.

Why wouldn’t you want to be on the Coast? Sadly, the city’s road network is at breaking point. Photo: Jerad Williams

A Gold Coast City Council spokesman said with the Commonwealth Games only 18 months away, vital road upgrades were unavoidable during school holiday periods.

“Road improvements are ongoing in a growing city and occur year round,” the spokesman said.

“Many of our road upgrades relate to infrastructure improvements, footpath/cycleway upgrades and kerb and channelling.”

Sadly a common sight: Traffic congestion on the M1.

The spokesman said the Coast’s population was growing by around 17,000 people a year. Coupled with high visitation numbers, the resulting growth in traffic adds more than 35,000 daily vehicle trips to the road network year on year.

“That is why the City’s Transport Strategy includes a range of responses including increasing road capacity, squeezing more out of the network by optimising the performance of the signals, improving active transport facilities and developing light rail,” the spokesman said.

Motorists are advised to follow all roadwork signs, traffic controllers and speed limits at affected sites.

Road closures are also listed on the council’s website.