New bridges to make home even closer to your destination

Mayor Tom Tate recently announced $34 million worth of funding to introduce a new lane on the Sundale Bridge. Once complete, the new project should reduce travel time between Southport and Main Beach from 35 to 8 minutes during peak periods.

Here’s the latest news on Gold Coast travel options.

Extra lanes for the Gold Coast

Plans include bringing the total number of lanes to five, by adding a third one travelling in the northbound direction. The old pedestrian path is being demolished to make way for the new lane.

However, improvements don’t stop with the bridge. The Gold Coast Highway is set to see three lanes travelling in either direction, from Tedder Avenue to Ada Bell Way, and from Waterways Drive to Tedder Avenue. Meanwhile, additional traffic flow measures include improvements to Waterways Drive itself and a pedestrian crossing on Macarthur Parade near the Southport Yacht Club.

Current expectations are that all projects will take two years to complete, finishing in late 2021.

A separate plan is underway to help increase the Gold Coast traffic capacity – the $55 million Isle of Capri Decongestion Project, also due to complete in 2021. The Isle of Capri is experiencing increased congestion due to it’s position as a major east-west connection and the 60-year old bridge is struggling with capacity.

Gold Coast growth

Mayor Tate has cited expected population growth as one of the drivers behind the new plans. With expectations of a population that doubles by 2050, the mayor is planning ahead to create a travel infrastructure that can deal with the change.

The Isle of Capri bridge currently sees 18,000 cars per day cross over, however, the city is expecting this to increase to 25,000 per day within the next eight years.

As a result, Gold Coast City Transport Strategy, developed in 2013 and valid until 2031, is specifically designed to orchestrate a futuristic transport system. It aims to eliminate bottle necks, improve public transport availability and generally manage road space more efficiently.

There are also plans in action that aim to change travel behaviours, and that focus on how the public transport option is due to develop over the next decade. The Travel Behaviour Change Plan hopes to encourage sustainable travel and ensure an increasing number of people use public transport more often.

If you’re thinking of joining the Gold Coast’s growing population or want to get closer to local transport links, talk to Ray White Surfers Paradise for help finding the perfect property.