Jabiru Island crossing: Funding for expansion of Hope Island to Paradise Point bridge

Northern Gold Coast residents are celebrating a long-awaited move to update one of the city’s most notorious congestion choke points. They now have one big question. FIND OUT MORE

Northern Gold Coast residents are celebrating a long-awaited move from the state government to fund the expansion of one of the city’s most notorious congestion choke points.

Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed funding has been set aside for the planning of the duplication of the Jabiru Island crossing at Hope Island.

Speaking at Friday’s Future Gold Coast event, Mr Crisafulli said the project was moving forward on the major arterial road, which connects northern suburbs to the M1.

Premier David Crisafulli. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“As a local member, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I also didn’t mention the need to duplicate the Jabiru Island Crossing between Hope Island and Paradise Point,” he said.

“Money (for the project) has been funded and that work will finally get underway (first) with detailed planning.”

The crossing has been a major congestion point. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The bridge on Oxley Drive will be duplicated from its current format of a single lane in each direction as part of the works.

However no details have been revealed for costs or when the work will occur.

Congestion in the area, particularly at peak hours, has been a growing issue for more than a decade.

A Covid-era boom of development in Hope Island, which saw numerous towers built around Sickle Ave, has also increased the area’s population significantly.

Hope Island resident Bill Barnes. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Long-time Hope Island resident Bill Barnes has campaigned for the upgrade for more than five years and welcomed the Premier’s announcement.

“It’s about time this work was done,” he said.

“I had spoken to David Crisafulli about it several years ago, back when he was in opposition and he told me at the time (funding for the project) wasn’t even on the forward estimates.

“I had almost given up on it in despair but this is going to be a major undertaking and it will be a long and difficult project.

“The population has grown so much, especially with all the high-density projects on the Hope Island side.”

Shelley Curtis. Picture Glenn Hampson

Paradise Point councillor Shelley Curtis said the upgrade of the road was a topic frequently raised with her by residents impacted by the congestion.

“It was the number one topic people hit me up about when I first came into the role (in 2023),” she said.

“This is really exciting because it will make the transition within the community from Hope Island to Paradise Point so much easier.

“I hope the design phase will progress quickly.”