Notification #87 – Project update and upcoming construction activities

Pacific Motorway (M1) – Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade     

14 February 2020

Project update

The significant rain over the last few weeks has caused some delays to our day works program and repeated cancellations of our night works. With the rain now easing, once our work sites dry out, construction along the entire alignment will resume. An update about the various works zones along our alignment is below and our planned night works program for the next two weeks is also provided, weather permitting.

  • Mudgeeraba (Exit 79) to Robina (Exit 82)

From late February, the alignment of traffic on the southbound side of this section will move to the newly constructed lanes near the median (alongside the northbound lanes). Two consecutive night works shifts will be required to allow this minor traffic shift in the week commencing 23 February, with the changed traffic conditions expected to be in place by late that week. These works have been delayed several weeks due to the wet weather but once this traffic shift occurs, it will provide access for upgrade works to occur along the existing southbound lanes.

Finishing works around the bases of the Mudgeeraba Creek bridges on the northbound side are nearly complete. In the coming weeks, the project will start finishing works around the bases of the bridges on the southbound side. The pedestrian access from Cobber Park will be reinstated once all works at the base of the bridges on both sides are complete by mid-2020. Finishing works will also start next week on the motorway side of the Robina (Exit 82) northbound on-ramp, just past the overpass.

Above left:  Median works almost complete between Mudgeeraba (Exit 79) and Robina (Exit 82), where southbound traffic will soon move to.Above right: Photographed today, the new section of Stapley Drive bridge (looking north) and the future northbound lanes near Varsity Lakes (Exit 85).

  • Robina (Exit 82) to Varsity Lakes (Exit 85)

The works in the future northbound lanes in this section have progressed considerably with asphalt now covering most of this section. Finishing works for these new lanes have now started and over the coming weeks, the final layers of asphalt will be installed alongside fencing, guardrail, signage and other features.

Construction of the new section of Stapley Drive bridge over the future northbound lanes is also in its final stages with the concrete deck (the foundation of the new road) now poured and the parapets (barriers located along the bridge’s edge) now installed.

Once all finishing works in this section are complete in the coming months, further information will be provided about the project’s plans to progressively open all the new lanes near Varsity Lakes (Exit 85), with traffic to be moved onto its permanent alignment.

Night works 

Night works occur Sunday to Thursday nights from 6pm to 6am, with traffic impacts from 8pm to 4am. Some night works will occur behind construction barriers with no impacts to traffic expected. Other works will require some changed traffic conditions with reduced speed limits in place. Please note, should weather delay these works, they will move to the next available night shift.

*Next week – Sunday 16 to Thursday 20 February 2020

  • Project wide
    • Landscape maintenance will occur along the M1 in both directions, with a lane closure in place in the general area of the works, when required. These works will occur nightly next week until complete.
    • Nightly electrical works will occur along the M1 in both directions requiring intermittent shoulder, lane and ramp closures. When impacts are significant, such as ramp closures with detours in place, further information will be provided.
  • Mudgeeraba (Exit 79) to Robina (Exit 82)
    • Northbound motorway traffic will be diverted via the Robina (Exit 82) off-ramp and on-ramp on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights for a range of works including asphalting, line marking and the movement of concrete barriers to establish a new work site in that area.
    • A shoulder closure will be in place on Tuesday night near the Mudgeeraba (Exit 79) northbound off-ramp. This closure is required to install guardrail.
    • A northbound lane closure will be in place in this section each night next week for concrete works occurring in the median.

*The week after – Sunday 23 to Thursday 27 February 2020

  • Project wide
    • Nightly electrical works will occur along the M1 in both directions requiring intermittent shoulder, lane and ramp closures. When impacts are significant, such as ramp closures with detours in place, further information will be provided.
  • Mudgeeraba (Exit 79) to Robina (Exit 82)
    • On two consecutive nights, a range of works will occur to move southbound traffic in this section to the newly completed lanes in the median.
      • On the first night, all southbound traffic will be detoured via the Robina (Exit 82) off and on-ramps.
      • On the second night, the Robina (Exit 82) southbound on-ramp will be closed with a detour in place to the next available on-ramp at Varsity Lakes (Exit 85).
      • Further information will be provided about these changed traffic conditions.
  • Robina (Exit 82) to Varsity Lakes (Exit 85)
    • Asphalting will occur behind construction barriers on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February. No impacts to traffic are expected during these works, however local residents may hear some noise from the use of heavy construction machinery.

*It’s important to note – the above dates are based on current planning and conditions. Many factors, including inclement weather and unfavourable construction conditions, can cause our works program to change. Emailed Traffic Alerts and SMS messages sent to mobile phones (for those registered) are provided prior to significant traffic impacts to alert motorists. Further information will also be provided in upcoming community email updates (currently provided fortnightly).

Day works continue Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm. Some works may also be required outside of these hours including at Stapley Drive bridge with early morning concrete pours occurring from 3am to assist the curing process.