Gold Coast’s CBD headed for gridlock as traffic upgrade costs blow out

Future transport forecasts have revealed Southport will be confronted by traffic gridlock sooner than we think. Read why

Future transport forecasts have revealed Southport will be confronted by traffic gridlock within six years when key link roads to the CBD will be at “over capacity”.

Mapping shows the worst congestion hot spots include the first section of Smith St on exiting the southbound lane of the Pacific Motorway at Parkwood.

Traffic would also be “at capacity” along the Gold Coast Highway at sections near Biggera Waters and the critical southern connection to Surfers Paradise as well as busy connector streets within the CBD.

The council is trying to find transport solutions but facing a blowout in roadwork costs, with some major projects more than doubling in cost in recent years.

Gold Coast City Council road mapping shows red marks for “over capacity”, while black sections are “at capacity”.

Latest council budget documents show the Wardoo St-Cotlew St upgrade at Ashmore, first promised as a $15 million staged program in June 2021, had blown out to $29.7 million.

The final costs, to be published in council papers next month, are estimated to add another $2.4 million to “cover the current budget”.

The cause has been blamed on “escalating” rates for supply of materials along with safety upgrades.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan said residents tended to only use their cars at peak times to drive to the CBD if they needed essential services.

The Southport CBD through to Main Beach has become gridlocked during peak hours. Resident leader Sue Donovan says residents have to pick their times to travel to the CBD.

Ms Donovan said traffic gridlock was from Smith St to Main Beach on weekends and holidays when motorists, many from Brisbane, head to the beaches and the Spit.

“Main Beach residents certainly avoid any except essential travel at these peak periods,” she said.

“For example at these times, I have known a trip to or from the Gold Coast University Hospital to take me over an hour, plus there is really no alternative route.

“Normally this trip would take no more than 15 minutes. Given the fast growing population, it’s hard to see things improving.

“With all the construction currently underway in Main Beach, the population is expected to double in the next 20 years. We will just have to get used to travel times that are more like big cities like Melbourne and Sydney.”

Traffic on Seaworld Drive and the Gold Coast Highway during school holidays. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Traffic data shows the spike in trips at some of the CBD’s crash zones.

The Sundale Bridge in a seven-day period in November last year showed an average two-way volume of 56,450 vehicles per day.

This compares to 48,640 vehicles a day in 2018 - a boost of 16 per cent.

The bridge, which is a key north-south link, underwent an upgrade in 2021 to accommodate an extra northbound lane, with the speed limit reduced from 70km/h to 60km/h.

Southport residents wanting to protect Carey Park and stop the planned indoor stadium are using traffic as a key plank in their campaign as the city finalises community consultation.

Southport resident Chris Ponting in emails to councillors warned gridlock was occurring along Marine Pde between Short St and Ada Bell Way.

“The road design and traffic lights in proximity, combined with the crossing of the light rail and alighting pedestrians that cross at the lights causes severe gridlock at times,” he said.

Traffic exiting Main Beach to access the Sundale Bridge and enter Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Another resident campaigning against the stadium, Eric James, provided photographs of traffic congestion at CBD locations, including both Queen and Short streets accessing Marine Pde.

He said traffic exiting Marine Pde after the New Year’s Eve fireworks took more than an hour for about 2000 motorists.

Southport councillor Brooke Patterson said traffic gridlock was a continuing issue for “a growing city”, with Southport experiencing congestion like other areas.

“What I’m clear on after just having come back from Auckland, is that trying to push down a kind of no car approach is not the way to go,” she said.

“People like to use their cars. We need to ensure we have roads that meet those needs. Our engineers are really looking at that, they are also using artificial intelligence now to consider their forecasting and how they do that work.”

Ms Patterson last year questioned the accuracy of the city’s budgeting forecasts after the Wardoo-Cotlew streets blowouts.

“We have identified a really good approach which will fix that to a large degree,” she said.

Follow @PaulWestonGC 

 

Originally published as Gold Coast’s CBD headed for gridlock as traffic upgrade costs blow out