M1 traffic: Drop in M1 speed limit on Gold Coast fails to ease gridlock ahead of Commonwealth Games

IT was meant to be the silver bullet to reduce M1 congestion during the Commonwealth Games. But reduced speed limits which came into effect today did little to reduce heavy congestion during peak hour. Here’s what the M1 looked like and what motorists said.

NEW speed limits came into effect on the M1 today but it was the same old story for many Gold Coast motorists.

Speed limits fell by 10km/h from Springwood to Gaven today as part of a range of measures to reduce congestion and prevent accidents during the Commonwealth Games.

The speed limit drop was meant to ‘maintain traffic flow’ but on the M1 at peak hour this morning, southbound motorists faced heavy congestion.

Traffic barely reached 60km/h at some points between Yatala and Helensvale.

M1 CONGESTION HOTSPOTS FOR THE 2018 GAMES

Speed Limit 100km/h. They’re lucky to get to 60km/h. The M1 southbound at Coomera at 8am today. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The Fanning family from Coomera were torn about the decision to drop the speed limit when the Gold Coast Bulletin spoke with them while they were driving their kids to school.

“I don’t think it’ll make much difference, we’ll only be going 15km/h (for the Commonwealth Games) anyway,” said Tom Fanning who stopped at the BP Upper Coomera service station this morning.

Tom’s wife Kylie said the change made sense.

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“It will work because there’s too many variations of speed on the M1 so you see people weaving around each other as everyone slows down and speeds up,” Ms Fanning said.

“But we’re locals and we don’t really want to be here for the Commonwealth Games.”

While southbound traffic was congested through Yatala to Helensvale, Gold Coast cabinet maker Matt said northbound traffic had not changed much.

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“I don’t think it’s going to stop any issues unless they slow it right down,” he said.

“It started to creep up to about 110km/h but I think everyone is across it, it’s all over the radio. “There were a few people I noticed who seemed to be a bit oblivious.”

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Speed limits fell by 10km/h from Springwood to Gaven today as part of a range of measures to reduce congestion and prevent accidents during the Games. Picture Glenn Hampson.

He said he hadn’t seen any police on his morning commute.

“I haven’t seen any cops yet. But we’ll see how it goes over the next few week. It’d be a pretty bad look to see them out revenue raising,” he said.

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Runaway Bay retiree Allan Kuczynski, who stopped at the servo to get a coffee, said he hoped the Commonwealth Games shone a spotlight on congestion issues on the M1.

It’s only 8am but this is how the M1 looks Picture Glenn Hampson

“The Governments had well over four years to work on widening the roads. Longer considering how long (athletics champion and former Gold Coast mayor) Ron Clarke campaigned for the Games,” Mr Kuczynski said.

“I hope this will make Mayor Tom Tate realise how much we need to do for the roads after the Commonwealth Games and really push the State Government to do something about it. “The light rail is a great idea, we need more lines,” he said.

Commonwealth Games Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the temporary change in speed was designed to get people to the Games on time and safely.

“I guess it’s reasonable to say it’s counter intuitive to say we want to make sure we slow traffic down in order to make sure it flows better and people get there on time,” he said.

“There’s pretty good science behind this ... put in lay terms what it means is that when you slow traffic down particularly on high volume areas like the M1 you reduce the risk of crashes.”

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Queensland Minister for Transport Mark Bailey. Pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian.

Yesterday Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said maintaining traffic flow and ensuring the safe movement of road users between Brisbane and the Gold Coast was critical to the Games’ success.

“This is going to be the biggest sporting event in Queensland’s history, and we’re pulling out all stops to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible,” Mr Bailey said.

‘‘We’d now like motorists to be aware of the next round of temporary traffic management initiatives set to commence in stages from tomorrow.”

RACQ REVEALS FIXES THE M1 NEEDS

The temporary M1 management initiatives for the games include:

* Reducing the speed in the 110km/h speed zone by 10km/h to 100km/h between the Logan Motorway Interchange (Exit 31) to Gaven (Exit 69), northbound and southbound from March 1 2018.

* Reducing the speed in the 100km/h zone by 10km/h to 90km/h from the M1/M3 merge at Eight Mile Plains to Logan Motorway Interchange, northbound and southbound from March 1 2018.

* Temporary ramp metering at the southbound Gold Coast Highway (Exit 62) and Smith Street (Exit 66) on-ramps to keep traffic moving at a constant pace as vehicles join the motorway, from mid-March 2018.

* Additional Traffic Response Units and towing vehicles to ensure incidents are cleared from the M1 as quickly as possible. These will be deployed in stages from today with all units deployed by April 4 2018. The deployment will finish on April 15 2018 after the closing ceremony.

* Allowing vehicles carrying athletes and officials to travel along the hard shoulder of the M1, under police escort where safe and at low speed, if there is severe congestion that may prevent them from arriving at an event on time. This will only occur between April 4 2018 and April 18 2018.

* Speed enforcement measures on the M1 including trailer mounted speed cameras, which are to be managed by Queensland Police Service.

Mr Bailey said lower speeds would actually increase capacity, according to research.

“The research showed speed reduction and ramp metering helps to increase motorway capacity, improve travel speeds during peak times and reduce the number of crashes,” he said.

‘‘Variable message signs will be used on the M1 in the lead-up to the Games to increase awareness of temporary speed reductions and prepare motorists for the changed conditions.

‘‘Ramp metering using mobile traffic lights and variable message signs will commence at the southbound Gold Coast Highway and Smith Street on-ramps in mid-March 2018 and continue for the duration of the Games.

‘‘These will only be active during peak times or when required.’’