| Revision as of 11:06, 28 May 2013 editEvad37 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators44,543 edits fix state link in infobox← Previous edit | Revision as of 13:45, 28 May 2013 edit undoMitch Ames (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers185,942 edits QLD is not an acronym, so should not be all-capsNext edit → | ||
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| | road_name = Pacific Motorway | | road_name = Pacific Motorway | ||
| | state = |
| state = Qld | ||
| | route_image = QLD-M3.png | | route_image = QLD-M3.png | ||
| | route_image2 = Australian Alphanumeric State Route M1.PNG | | route_image2 = Australian Alphanumeric State Route M1.PNG | ||
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| | ], ], ], ]<br />], Stewart Road '''{{AUSR|2}}''' '''{{AUSR|98}}''' | | ], ], ], ]<br />], Stewart Road '''{{AUSR|2}}''' '''{{AUSR|98}}''' | ||
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| | style="background: #ececec; color: grey;" class="table-na" colspan="3" | ''''' |
| style="background: #ececec; color: grey;" class="table-na" colspan="3" | '''''Qld'''''<br />''STATE BORDER''<br />'''''NSW''''' | ||
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| | style="background: #ececec; color: grey;" class="table-na" colspan="3" | ''Tunnel under airport runway'' | | style="background: #ececec; color: grey;" class="table-na" colspan="3" | ''Tunnel under airport runway'' | ||
Revision as of 13:45, 28 May 2013
This article is about the Pacific Motorway in Queensland. For the Pacific Motorway in New South Wales, see Pacific Motorway (New South Wales).| Pacific Motorway Queensland | |
|---|---|
Formerly    | |
| General information | |
| Type | Highway |
| Length | 100 km (62 mi) |
| Route number(s) | Brisbane CBD-Eight Mile Plains:  Eight Mile Plains - NSW/Qld Border:  |
 Gateway Motorway Logan Motorway Gold Coast Highwayfor full list see exits. | |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Rochedale, Loganholme, Beenleigh, Nerang, Mudgeeraba, Tugun |
| Highway system | |
The Pacific Motorway is a 100 km long motorway in Australia between Brisbane, Queensland, and the New South Wales-Queensland border at Tweed Heads. The motorway starts at Coronation Drive at Milton in Brisbane, and since 2008 connects with the Tweed Heads bypass in New South Wales. The Brisbane city section of the motorway is often referred to by its former name, the Riverside Expressway.
The motorway features eight traffic lanes with a 110 km/h speed limit between the M6 Logan Motorway and Smith Street Motorway and generally six or four lanes at 100 km/h on other sections. The motorway passes through the major tourist region of the Gold Coast, the destination for most of the vehicular traffic from Brisbane. More than A$2 billion was spent on the motorway between 1990 and 1998, including widening the road and safety measures.
The Motorway passes many Gold Coast attractions such as Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet'n'Wild Water World, and Dreamworld, which are among the most popular theme parks in Australia.
There are also plans to progressively widen the four lane section from Nerang to Tugun to six lanes. The first section of this upgrade (Nerang to Varsity Lakes) was completed in May 2012. Planning is ongoing for the remaining section of the upgrade (Varsity Lakes to Tugun).
History
The first section, opened in Brisbane in November 1972, was originally known as the Southeast Freeway. It included the Riverside Expressway which was designed to alleviate traffic congestion in central Brisbane. The Southeast Freeway was connected to the Pacific Highway at Springwood in 1985. The Southeast Freeway was designated originally as the F3, but this nomenclature was removed in 1994.
On the 15 April 1996 it was announced that the Pacific Highway between the intersection with the Logan Motorway and Nerang would be upgraded to motorway standard. From the Albert River at Beenleigh to Coombabah Creek at Gaven, about 28 kms, the road surface is portland cement concrete. The upgraded road was opened to the public in October 2000.
In March 2006, the Queensland Government released planning for substantial changes to the section between Springwood and Daisy Hill, mainly at the entrances and exits along the section to deal with substantial traffic problems on surrounding streets and traffic backups onto the motorway. The planned upgrade led to some popular protest, mainly by people whose homes would be resumed for the project. Construction of the upgrade commenced in November 2009 and was completed in November 2012.
The Tugun Bypass was completed in 2008. It has four lanes (two in each direction in 2008 and provision for six lane widening in the future). Widening from four lanes to six lanes is planned for 2025.
Travel centres
The Pacific Motorway, when it was upgraded in September 2000, was the first motorway in Queensland to have service centres integrated. There are two service centres, Stapylton servicing southbound traffic, and Coomera servicing northbound traffic. The travel centres include BP and McDonalds as well as other fast-food restaurants, picnic areas and a shop. Solar panels on the roofs of the centres provide power to the facilities.
Speed cameras
There is a fixed speed camera on the Pacific Motorway at Tarragindi, facing northbound. There is another at Loganholme just after the Logan Motorway exit facing northbound. A third set of speed cameras, situated on the northbound side of the motorway at the Smith Street overpass at Gaven, are due to become active by March 2013.
Exits
Notes
Exits are numbered progressively from the Brisbane CBD.
See also
- Freeways in Australia
- Freeways in New South Wales
- Freeways in Brisbane
- Freeways in Gold Coast
- M1, Queensland
References
- Pacific Motorway (M1) upgrade planning: Nerang to Tugun. Retrieved 10th January 2013.
- ^ Gregory, Helen (2010). Building Brisbane's History: Structure, Sculptures, Stories and Secrets. Warriewood, New South Wales: Woodslane Press. pp. 8–10. ISBN 9781921606199.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ David Bevan (2007). The Pacific Motorway Report: An investigation into the actions of the Department of Main Roads in relation to noise and safety issues concerning the Pacific Motorway (PDF). Brisbane: Queensland Ombudsman. p. xiv. ISBN 978-0-9758442-9-8. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- Pacific Motorway (M1) upgrade: Springwood (south) to Daisy Hill. Retrieved 10th January 2013.
- "RTA and Tweed Council traffic master plan"
- Speed Camera - M1 Tarragindi QLD. Holland Park West, QLD, 4121. POIDB on fixed speed cameras.
- New speed cameras installed on M1. Retrieved 10th January 2013.
External links
 Road infrastructure in the Gold Coast | ||
|---|---|---|
| Motorways: |  | |
| Highways: | ||
| Major roads: | ||
| Transport on the Gold Coast | ||
