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Residents get first look at $1B M1 Gold Coast upgrade

The Federal Government has locked in $112 million for the 6.4-kilometre extension of the Gold Coast Light Rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

The Federal Government has locked in $112 million for the 6.4-kilometre extension of the Gold Coast Light Rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.Gold Coast residents have been given their first look at plans for the city’s $1 billion Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade, set to begin next year.

New images, including the new Northbound carriageway across the Mudgeeraba Creek, have been released to give locals a sneak peek.

Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the vital piece of infrastructure will bust congestion and better connect communities in the region.

“Shovels will hit the ground next year on the project, which will be delivered in three packages,” Mr. Tudge said.

The project will feature the regions first diverging diamond interchange and will have more lanes along the 10 kilometre stretch. New upgrades will also be implemented at the Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera and Palm Beach exits.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the upgrade was part of the Queensland Government’s jointly-funded $2.3 billion commitment to building a better M1 and supporting more than 2,000 jobs during construction.

“This is a project five times the size of the of M1 upgrade at Mudgeeraba, which will create more than 800 jobs for the city of the Gold Coast,” he said.

Other upgrades for the project include:

  • Building a new service road bridge over Tallebudgera Creek connecting a new western service road, with one lane each way, between Palm Beach and Tallebudgera.
  • Installing Smart Motorway technologies between Varsity Lakes and Tugun and retrofitting these technologies between Nerang and Mudgeeraba.
  • Preserving the corridor for a future rail extension south of Varsity Lakes. Significant environmental improvements will also feature in the upgrade, including a passage under the motorway to reconnect fauna to the Burleigh to Springbrook bioregional wildlife corridor, improved fish passage in waterways and through culverts, fauna fencing, and koala habitat and fodder tree plantings.

 


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