Gold Coast Light rail Stage 3: Mermaid Beach Gold Coast Highway traffic changes

Light rail bosses have revealed when construction of the $1bn Broadbeach to Burleigh extension will be completed as they prepare to ramp up construction on the Gold Coast Highway.

Light rail bosses insist construction of the $1bn Broadbeach to Burleigh extension is on track to open in 2025 as they prepare to ramp up construction on the Gold Coast Highway.

The highway, one of the city’s busiest arterial roads, will be reduced to one lane in Mermaid Beach between Markeri Street and Cronulla Avenue in the next stage of works, which begin on July 9.

Construction of the track itself is yet to begin, with the work focusing on installing utilities underneath the tram infrastructure itself. The Bulletin understands the works are running behind schedule, with sources close to the project saying there had been significant delays during the first phase of work.

Light Rail stage 3 construction work along Broadbeach. Photo: Regi Varghese

GoldlinQ CEO Phil Mumford insisted the ramping up of construction was about keeping the project on schedule rather than catching up.

“Expanding the work area in Mermaid Beach is designed to keep this important project on track and the traffic changes will impact the northbound lane only while alternative routes are available, including Pacific Parade and Sunshine Boulevard,” he said.

“Extensive traffic modelling has been undertaken to ensure traffic flow impacts on the Gold Coast Highway corridor are manageable.

“We are still anticipating Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 will be complete by the end of 2025, so to lay track next year, we need to increase productivity in the infrastructure phase we are in now.

GoldlinQ CEO Phil Mumford.

“The workforce is ramping up at the same time, with more than 400 on board currently and more than 800 expected by October.”

The 6.7km Stage 3 of the tram upgrade will run down the highway from the Broadbeach South station to Burleigh Heads

Construction and utilities investigations are primarily focused on the Mermaid Beach stretch of the project while the first stage of works will arrive in Burleigh in July. This will include widening the road around Memorial Park in Burleigh Heads and relocating Energex utilities.

Gold Coast Light Rail Business Advisory Group boss Steve Harrison said that many traders along the route were bracing for tough months ahead as the construction work ramps up.

The highway will be reduced to a single lane. Photo: Regi Varghese

“It will be a huge period for the project but the intention of the work ramping up is to get in and get it done with the minimal amount of impact on the businesses in that corridor,” he said.

“Rather than go through it methodically and take time, it is more about getting in there and smashing the work out, getting it done and get those roads reopened so some normality cane come back to the businesses there.

“This is going to be the most intensive work of the whole project in the next 12 months but what we need to do is give certainty and confidence to the businesses there so they can make decisions about what they are doing through this phase of the work.”

Several restaurants and other businesses along the route have closed temporarily or shut down in recent months.