Work is underway on a major upgrade to one of the Sunshine Coast’s busiest interchanges.
The state government announced on Monday that the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade (Stage 1) had started.
The project is expected to help address congestion, boost capacity and improve safety issues on the Sunshine Motorway, as well as provide connectivity for Stage 3 of The Wave, which will include a metro bus route between Birtinya and Sunshine Coast Airport.
The interchange upgrade appeared to hit a stop sign last year because of a lack of funding and after costs had blown out by an estimated $424 million, before authorities reinvigorated plans for it in June, as part of The Wave: a multi-billion dollar rail and bus corridor from Beerwah to Marcoola.
The MRIU project will include a new road overpass from Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road at Mooloolaba, new local road connection between Karawatha Drive and Brisbane Road, duplication of a section of the Sunshine Motorway and a link road from the motorway to Kawana Way.
The early works will include site clearing, service relocations and geotechnical investigations.
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The project is expected to be complete in time for the 2032 Games.
Premier David Crisafulli said the renewed interchange would bolster local transport.
“This is more than just a road upgrade, it’s about delivering the generational infrastructure Queensland needs for the future,” he said.
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“We’re backing the Sunshine Coast with real investment, real action and a real plan to fix the transport bottlenecks that have held it back for too long.”
Deputy Premier and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said the works would help the rapidly-growing region prepare for years to come.
“The Mooloolah River Interchange will transform the Sunshine Coast’s road network and future-proof a critical transport link for our region,” he said.
Mr Bleijie said it would be “one of the biggest transport infrastructure funding boosts the region has ever seen”.
It’s unclear exactly how much it will cost and how it will be paid for. The state government committed funding to progress early works activities for Stage 1 as part of the 2025-2026 budget. The cost of Stage 1 will be refined during the tender process for the main construction works, which will start in coming months.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the project was crucial.
“The Mooloolah River Interchange is about easing congestion, improving safety, and creating a connected Sunshine Coast region that is ready to welcome the world in 2032 and accommodate a growing population,” he said.
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said the project was key to unlocking the largest transport bottleneck in the region.
“We are pushing ahead with the MRI for the people of the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
