A preliminary evaluation is nearing completion for a motorway duplication that could ease congestion for more than 30,000 vehicles a day.
The state government says community consultation has indicated strong support for increased capacity along an 11km section of the Sunshine Motorway between Pacific Paradise and Coolum Beach.
The proposal includes increasing the road from two lanes to four lanes and making improvements to major intersections, including the bustling Yandina-Coolum Road roundabout.
A spokesperson said the Department of Transport and Main Roads was almost finished an initial assessment of the proposal.
“We are finalising preliminary planning to duplicate the Sunshine Motorway from Pacific Paradise to Coolum,” they said.
“Around 30,600 vehicles use this section daily and traffic volumes are expected to increase with continued growth on the Sunshine Coast.
“The project aims to improve safety, connectivity, capacity and efficiency.
“Preliminary evaluation involved developing a preferred option, including duplication from two to four lanes.”
The spokesperson said locals and commuters clearly wanted more lanes.
“Community consultation in early 2023 indicated strong support for this feature and feedback will be used during the business case to further develop the preferred option,” they said.
The Queensland Government recently committed $3 million for a business case study, which is set to start in earnest next year. That’s set to include technical investigations to evaluate a detailed design and construction costs.
The proposed project’s primary focus is the duplication of the motorway from Pacific Paradise to just north of the Yandina-Coolum Road roundabout.
But a new interchange at the roundabout is also a priority.
It could have a new interchange including a bridge over the roundabout for motorway through-traffic and new on and off-ramps.
There could also be new off-ramps at West Coolum Road, to enable commuters to access south and west Coolum conveniently.
There could also be new paths for pedestrians and cyclists, mostly adjacent to the motorway and key nearby roads.
Traffic lights have also been proposed at Coolum State School, where a small roundabout is clogged at school hours.
There could also be provisions for wildlife fencing, improved flood immunity and smart motorway technologies such as variable speed limit signs, closed circuit television and road weather detectors.
In TMR’s interactive community consultation for another project, the Maroochydore-Noosa Road Route Strategy and Link Plan, several commuters expressed enthusiasm for changes to the motorway.
“Duplication of Sunshine Motorway and improvement to Coolum interchange urgently required for safety/commercial viability and to reduce commuter pressure on David Low Way and suburban streets,” said one user, TonyBMNSR.
“Access to and from Mt Coolum and the David Low Way needed from the Sunshine motorway, to assist in congestion reduction on the DLW in Marcoola/Mt Coolum,” myview60 said.
“Please duplicate and separate the carriageways on the motorway. The potential for head-on accidents is too great,” cycle_revue said.
“The Sunshine Motorway needs to be doubled and made duel lane each way with this roundabout (at Yandina-Coolum Road) removed and a safer under or overpass to improve flow and safety at this junction,” CivilisedSociety said.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.
