Today’s opening of the new Underwood Road Bridge has brought Queensland’s congestion-busting Pacific Motorway upgrade another step closer to completion.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said motorists were beginning to experience the benefits of the $195.3 million Pacific Motorway upgrade.
“This investment is about keeping Queenslanders moving. The M1 Pacific Motorway experiences some of the state’s heaviest traffic, with daily traffic volumes exceeding 148,000 vehicles and expected to grow,” Mr Tudge said.
State Member for Springwood Mick de Brenni said construction of the bridge was a major milestone in a nationally significant project.
“The opening of the bridge means we’ve made huge progress to deliver on our commitment to get you home to your family sooner,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Not only have we created 130 jobs on the bridge itself, fixing the motorway will save small business millions on lost time each year, which instead can be spent on jobs for locals.”
Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen said the partial opening of the bridge at Eight Mile Plains would make it easier for local residents to bypass the Pacific Motorway.
“Upgrading the Pacific Motorway will improve congestion, improve freight efficiency and road safety, and better connect local businesses, communities and motorists in the region,” Mr van Manen said.
”I’d like to thank the community for its ongoing patience as we work to complete the Pacific Motorway upgrade.”
Project early works started in September 2017, major construction began in April 2018 and the project is expected to be completed in mid-2020, weather permitting.
The $195.3 million Pacific Motorway Upgrade: M1/M3 Gateway merge project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, with the Australian Government committing $115 million and the Queensland Government committing $80.3 million
State Member for Macalister Melissa McMahon said the next big step for the project was to remove the old Underwood bridge.
“The expansion on Underwood Road, the M1 and M3 will make it faster and safer for Logan families to get to where they need to be,” Ms McMahon said.
“With traffic now open on the new bridge, motorists travelling at night along the Pacific Motorway will find changed traffic conditions between Upper Mount Gravatt and Underwood as the old bridge is deconstructed over the Pacific Motorway lanes.”
This process will take place over the next four to six weeks, with some road closures expected, and motorists are urged to plan their journeys if they are travelling through this section of the M1 during this time.
For up-to-date traffic information, call 13 19 40, visit the QLDTraffic website or download the QLDTraffic app.
