Massive changes to M1 traffic as major upgrades underway from Eight Mile Plains to Springwood

Major upgrades to the M1 are about to impact on Gold Coast motorists who work in Brisbane. Here is where and when you should avoid a certain stretch of the motorway.

THE M1 is about to get a lot slower.

Motorists heading back to the Gold Coast late after working in Brisbane, or driving early in the morning, need to prepare for major traffic diversions.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey in State Parliament today detailed the traffic changes at the Gateway Merge to help build a new bridge across the Pacific Motorway.

At least 41,000 motorists travel from the Coast to Brisbane on the M1 to get to work each day.

PLANS FOR TRAFFIC CONGESTION TASK FORCE SHUT DOWN

Traffic congestion at Coomera on the Pacific Motorway. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Night time diversions will be in place along a 5.5km stretch of the M1 from Eight Mile Plains to Springwood from Thursday, February 21 to Saturday, March 9.

Cranes will lift 52 concrete girders and make way for a new four-lane bridge over the M1 at Underwood.

Traffic will be detoured onto Logan Road between 9pm and 5am from Sundays to Thursdays, and from 11pm and 6am on Fridays and Saturdays,

Mr Bailey said construction of the new bridge was a significant milestone for the M1/M3/Gateway merge upgrade.

“The heavy lifting of these girders is concrete evidence of our commitment to reduce travel times for motorists,” he said.

“With major construction on the new Underwood Road bridge starting in mid-September last year, I’m pleased this vital piece of infrastructure is taking shape so quickly.”

Each of the precast concrete girders is up to 32 metres in length and weighs an average of 65.9 tonnes.

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Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon on a site tour of work on the M1 upgrade.

Mr Bailey in State Parliament admitted that traffic times for motorists could be blown out.

“There is no doubt that these diversions will add to traffic times for people for a short period of time driving between Brisbane and the Gold Coast at night and in the early morning,” he said.

“I want to thank all M1 motorists for their patience.”

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Traffic gets busy on the M1 at Upper Coomera by 4.30am as tradies head off to work. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Transport engineers at this point do not envisage similar major work delays on the southern upgrade of the highway between Mudgeeraba and Reedy Creek.

Mr Bailey took a political shot at the LNP for not undertaking any upgrades of the M1 during the Newman Government.