BRISBANE: That’s great news! The construction of the Coomera Connector is expected to have a significantly positive impact on traffic congestion in south-east Queensland.

The expected decline of up to 60,000 trips daily on the M1 from Brisbane to the Gold Coast is a significant reduction that should make travel much smoother and faster for commuters.

In addition to easing congestion, the $2.16 billion construction of the Coomera Connector will also provide employment opportunities for around 1000 workers during the project’s construction phase. This is a great boost for the local economy and will help to support families and businesses in the region.

The project is touted as Queensland’s biggest single road project, with stage one expected to start between Shipper Drive in Coomera and Helensvale Road at Helensvale.

Commuters have long been frustrated with the M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and even single-car crashes can result in lengthy delays, often more than doubling the standard hour-long trip.

Delays near the rapidly growing Coomera region, in addition to Pimpama further north, indicate roads in the area have not kept up with the Gold Coast’s booming population, which is forecast to reach close to 800,000 over the next decade – up from 732,000 now.

The government says the Connector will mean more reliable travel times between the two cities, with the central part of the project, connecting to Smith Street motorway, expected to start this year.

The “second M1”, with split funding from the federal and state governments, is expected to open from 2025.

According to brisbane times, Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the funding was in addition to the more than $5.5 billion already invested upgrading the M1 since 2015.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the project would mean Queenslanders would spend less time stuck in traffic.

“We know congestion is a significant issue for the region. It’s a drain on the economy and frustrating for families, which is why we’re getting on with delivering this critical piece of infrastructure,” she said.