M1 exit overcapacity revealed with dangerous congestion dating back four years

THIS is the Pacific Motorway exit that has been operating at over capacity by almost 3000 vehicles each day - for at least four years.

Traffic on the M1 near exit 57. Photo: David Clark

ONE of the main exits on the Pacific Motorway has been operating at over capacity by almost 3000 vehicles a day for at least four years.

The latest bottleneck for the frequently congested M1 emerged after Albert MP Mark Boothman asked the State Government to provide the initial design capacity for Exit 57 at Oxenford and the number of vehicles using it.

THE BEST SOLUTION TO M1 TRAFFIC ISSUE

The traffic signalling was struggling to deal with the amount of vehicles, he told Parliament.

Initial design capacity for Exit 57 in a 24-hour period was 16,330 vehicles per day westbound and 18,047 eastbound, data provided by Department of Main Roads shows.

But the latest recorded 24-hour count, undertaken in 2014, found the interchange had 18,266 vehicles westbound which was 1936 above the limit.

Traffic at Exit 57 along the M1. Photo: Jerad Williams

On the eastbound ramp, 20,879 vehicles used the interchange, which was 2832 higher than the designed roads could manage in a 24-hour period.

Acting Minister Steven Miles, in his reply to Mr Boothman, accused the former Newman Government and Albert MP of taking no action to address traffic growth on the interchange which was one of the Coast’s busiest.

“Consequently, the Department of Transport and Main Roads is currently conducting planning studies for short- and long-term upgrades of various interchanges on the M1, including Exit 57 at Oxenford,” he said.

“The primary objective of these studies is to increase safety and efficiency at these interchanges. Once these investigations are complete, funding for any upgrade would be subject to competing priorities across the state.

“That competition has become more challenging as a consequence of more than $600 million having been cut from transport funding during the term of the previous LNP government.”

Mr Boothman recalled planning for work which was undertaken in 2014-15 to lengthen turning lanes and create additional lanes which should have helped increase design capacity.

Albert MP Mark Boothman — he has obtained data showing the congestion on M1 exits. Picture Mike Batterham

He said the Labor Government had given no alternatives other than doing yet another study.

“This do-nothing Labor Government is telling residents we know the exit is over capacity, but keeping our area moving and motorists safe as they drive home to their families is not a priority” Mr Boothman said.

Parts of the Northern Gold Coast were growing at 20 per cent annually and the need for a viable alternative motorway was ever increasing, he added.

The Bulletin recently reported on new data which showed the M1 in hot spots like Coomera was headed to gridlock within “the next 12 months to 24 months”.

“The LNP will fight to build a second M1 to get you home safer and sooner. Motorists

need a viable alternative to the M1 to ease the pressure on the already clogged road

network and interchanges and free up these clogged interchanges,” Mr Boothman said.