Another milestone has been reached on fixing one of the worst traffic bottlenecks on the Coast, with design work set to start on the Mooloolah River Interchange (MRI) upgrade.
The major roads project has been on the drawing board for around 18 years but now GHD SMEC Joint Venture has been awarded the design contract.
The design is expected to be complete in 2023 when the community will have another opportunity to provide feedback.
The interchange is at the convergence of three key network connections — the Sunshine Motorway, Nicklin Way and Brisbane Road.
It will be designed to improve transport links between the new Maroochydore City Centre development, Birtinya town centre and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital health precinct.
When completed, governments say average peak period travel speeds on the Sunshine Coast will improve by up to 16%.
It will save about 11 minutes when travelling between northern Sunshine Coast suburbs and SCUH if fully constructed by 2026, and up to 26 minutes per trip by 2041.
Maroochydore to Bruce Highway travel times will reduce by up to 4 minutes, if the upgrade is fully constructed by 2026, and up to 22 minutes by 2041.
It will also reduce annual trips on northern sections of Nicklin Way by 5.3 million to free up capacity and improve traffic flow.
The Australian and Queensland government have jointly funded the $320 million first stage of the project, on a 50:50 basis.
Federal Urban Infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher said the project would help make it quicker and easier for commuters to travel between the Sunshine Coast’s northern suburbs and southern growth areas.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the project would improve safety and reducing congestion through the area.
“The first stage will see a new overpass built to provide a more direct and efficient connection from Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road in Mooloolaba, and a new local road will connect Karawatha Drive in Mountain Creek to Brisbane Road in Mooloolaba,” said Mr Miles.
“Delivering these local connections lays the foundations for future construction and helps to reduce disruptions to drivers.”
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Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said there would be a number of further upgrades down the track.
“Future stages will include a new crossing of the Mooloolah River between the Sunshine Motorway and Kawana Way,” Mr Wallace said.
“Future stages will also deliver a major upgrade to the interchange at the Mooloolah River with connections to the Sunshine Motorway, Nicklin Way and Kawana Way, and upgrade the Sunshine Motorway from two to four lanes between Kawana Way and the interchange.
“An additional northbound lane on the Sunshine Motorway would also be added, as well as enhanced active transport facilities and connectivity.”
Mr Miles said consultation with locals played an important part in the planning process.
“Making sure the local community can provide feedback on the designs gives us the confidence that we will infrastructure that will benefit the community,” he said.
“The feedback provided earlier this year has been collated and will help to inform the design of the upgraded interchange, which we expect will be complete in 2023.
“The community will have another opportunity to provide their feedback once a proposed design is developed.”
Mr Miles said the project complemented other works underway in the region, delivered as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s record $27.5 billion road and transport plan.
“The Sunshine Coast population is growing rapidly, thanks to Queensland’s strong response to COVID-19, which is why we are delivering nearly $3 billion in road and transport infrastructure in the region over the next four years,” he said.
“This includes vital upgrades to the Bruce Highway and over $500 million for the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade.
“We are getting on with the job and investing big in the region to set the Sunshine Coast up for the future.”
For more information, visit http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/sunshine-motorway-mooloolah-river-interchange-upgrade-stage-1
