Gold Coast light rail Stage 3: Construction of Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads link reaches critical milestone

Construction of the Gold Coast light rail’s Stage 3 extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads has reached a critical milestone. FIND OUT MORE

More than half of the tracks have now been laid down for the light rail’s Stage 3 as construction continues to ramp up on the Broadbeach to Burleigh stretch.

Customers are still around a year away from making their first trip to Burleigh Heads on the tram but the project has continued to hit milestones, including the completion of the second-largest retaining wall to be installed in the multi-year build.

A new retaining wall installed on the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 route. Picture: Supplied by GoldlinQ

GoldlinQ spokesman Phil Mumford said the wall had been a major focus of recent works.

“Works have been ongoing for four months on the wall – which measures 250 metres in length and is as high as 1.2 metres while demolition of the previous wall, located between Kelly Ave and Hythe Street on the Gold Coast Highway, started in early February 2025,” he said.

“In total, 370 cubic metres of concrete or about 900 tonnes was used for the retaining wall – which is the amount needed for a 50-metre-sized swimming pool or 52 trucks worth of concrete.”

GoldLinQ’s Phil Mumford. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Mumford said wide footpaths had been installed around the new wall, with fencing to follow.

“In total, three retaining walls are part of Stage 3 – two in Miami and one in Burleigh, running along the Lower Gold Coast Highway,” he said.

“The retaining wall progress has been recorded as more than 3.5 kilometres of track has been put in place and 43 kilometres of utilities have been installed from Broadbeach to Burleigh.”

Work on the Light Rail at Nobbys Beach. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Mumford said landscaping had begun along the route, while electrical infrastructure is being installed ahead of testing beginning later this year.

“The energisation of traction power substations started (earlier) this month and the overhead lines are scheduled to be energised in August 2025,” he said.

“More than half of the overhead line poles are already in place along the alignment, ready for power lines to be installed.”