One of the worst traffic-congestion hotspots in the heart of the Sunshine Coast could soon be unlocked.
The state government is weeks away from finalising a business case to upgrade the Mooloolah River Interchange at Mountain Creek, used by some 60,000 cars a day.
The major convergence of the Nicklin Way, Kawana Way and Sunshine Coast Motorway is a notorious traffic bottleneck with “near misses on a daily basis”.
The busy major road links Mooloolaba, Kawana and Mountain Creek and has become a worsening congestion nightmare in the central part of the Coast.
After 18 years on the drawing board, a detailed business case will be finalised this month for the project which is anticipated to cost about $430 million.
Its key features include widening the Sunshine Coast Motorway from two lanes to four lanes between the interchange and Kawana Way.
It also includes new road links between:
- Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road for northbound traffic
- Karawatha Drive in Mountain Creek and Brisbane Road
- New road connection across the Mooloolah River
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State Transport minister Mark Bailey’s office has confirmed the detailed business case, which was announced in June 2018 with $7.4million funding, is only weeks from completion.
The business case was investigating a new two-lane northbound connection from Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road.
It was also assessing the potential for duplicating a section of the Sunshine Motorway between the Kawana Way interchange and the Mooloolah River interchange.
About 60,000 vehicles daily cross the Mooloolah River, where the Nicklin Way becomes the Sunshine Coast Motorway, and the number of cars is projected to increase about 75,000 in 2041.
State member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson described the interchange as a “death-trap” and accused the State Government of failing to deliver on its promises.
The business case was originally due for completion in mid-2020.
“This dangerous interchange near the Mooloolah River is a death-trap and congestion nightmare for anyone on the Sunshine Motorway and Nicklin Way and feeder roads,” Ms Simpson said.
“However, the State Budget is silent on finishing this business case and getting on with building this project.”
However Mr Bailey said in a statement the project – which was not highlighted in the State Budget – was on track.
“Fiona Simpson is predictably incorrect in suggesting the Mooloolah River Interchange business case has been pushed back to 2021-22,” he said.
“We’ve invested $7.5 million for the business case, and that planning is on track.”
Once complete complete, the road upgrades are expected to:
- Reduce crashes and limit weaving at the Mooloolah River interchange
- Increase capacity on the Sunshine Motorway between the Kawana Way interchange and the new Mooloolah River interchange
- Better connect the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Maroochydore, Kawana and Caloundra via a new Mooloolah River crossing
Mr Bailey said the detailed business case was an important step towards prioritising funding for construction.
“We’ve listened to the Sunshine Coast Council and the community, and heard loud and clear that an additional Mooloolah River crossing is critical for supporting the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital precinct and the Kawana Town Centre,” he said.
To view the project layout online, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au, click on Projects, and select Mooloolah River interchange – Kawana Arterial and Sunshine Motorway upgrade.
