Gold Coast’s M1 madness is tragedy in the making according to politician

THE State Government ‘will have blood on its hands’ after not funding the upgrade of the M1’s crowded exits as a northern Gold Coaster pens a startling warning on just how dangerous they really are.

THE State Government is being warned it will have blood on its hands after not funding any upgrade to crowded Pacific Motorway exits as new rules force trucks into the crowded left hand lanes.

Gold Coast state opposition MPs are furious after discovering that last week’s Budget provides no major road funding north of Helensvale.

In a letter tabled in State Parliament a Pimpama resident recounted the daily fear of being caught on the M1 waiting to get on the offramps at Exits 45 and 49.

Exit 49 ramping — photographs taken by Coomera MP Michael Crandon at peak hour.

“Of an evening, there are very long queues on the motorway, this is so so so (sic) dangerous. I hold my breath waiting for someone travelling at 110 plus to run into the back of the queue. This is a disaster waiting to happen,” the Pimpama resident said.

M1 GOLD COAST NORTHBOUND CRASH CAUSES GRIDLOCK

“Surely, given that Pimpama is now considered to be the fastest growing area on the northern Gold Coast, there would be a high priority to provide adequate roads to carry all the residents it is attracting.”

Coomera MP Michael Crandon fears there will be truck fatal on the M1. Picture: Mike Batterham

Coomera MP Michael Crandon told the Bulletin the M1 traffic-buster plan for the Commonwealth Games which would see trucks being forced to use the two left-hand lanes from August 1 could cause a tragedy.

“I have three exits both ways (in my electorate) where we have ramping every morning and night. All those trucks are going to be forced into those lanes,” Mr Crandon said.

“You’re talking a B-double, the biggest of the trucks at 65 tonne, at 110km/h belting up the left lane of the highway where there is ramping onto the exit. It’s a recipe for a disaster and will be on their shoulders.”

RACE TO FIX COAST ROADS FOR GAMES

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in State Parliament late last week talked up the Government’s transport operations plan for the Commonwealth Games which would see 4.5 tonne trucks moved to the left lanes from the M3 merge at Eight Miles Plains to Nerang.

“Once again, this will make sure we manage the way in which people get transported around during this significant event,” she said.

Traffic chaos after a trucking accident at Nerang on the M1. Picture: Glenn Hampson

But truckies are opposed to the changes and fines, saying it is safer for them to stay in the outside lanes to keep away from slower motorists.

The only other solution being offered to ease M1 traffic congestion is also short term and involves traffic lights, first installed at an M1 overpass roundabout in 2013.

The traffic signals on a roundabout at the eastern side of Exit 45 — designed to reduce the queuing on the southbound off-ramp — were now operating for longer periods in the afternoon peak.

DEAL REACHED TO UPGRADE THE M1

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, responding to a complaint by Albert MP Mark Boothman, admitted the increased use of signals due to the ongoing growth in the northern Coast.

He said the Government was undertaking planning for long-term upgrades at interchanges including Exit 38 at Yatala North, Exit 41 at Yatala South, Exit 45 at Ormeau, Exit 49 at Pimpama and Exit 57 at Oxenford.

Firefighters and emergency services at the scene of a truck crash on the M1 bridge over the Nerang River. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“The primary objective of the planning is to increase safety and efficiency at these interchanges, and once complete, as assessment of priority will assist in submissions for future funding by government,” Mr Bailey wrote.

But he added that “it should be noted that there is currently no federal or state funding in place to construct any upgrades to these interchanges”.

The State Government had secured Australian Government Black Spot funding of almost $600,000 to install roundabout metering at Exits 38 and 41.

Mr Bailey in a letter to Mr Crandon conceded the increased use of the traffic signals was having an impact on eastbound traffic using the Ormeau overpass.

Workers driving south to Southport estimate a seven-minute trip to access the M1 in the morning peak has increased to half an hour.

“While this is inconvenient to traffic on the overpass, for the safety of motorway traffic, priority must be given to motorists exiting the motorway,” Mr Bailey said.