Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection, upgrade

The Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection project is an interim measure to better manage traffic flow. An upgrade to the intersection will help to minimise delays, congestion and queuing, and improve safety along this busy section of the network.

When implemented, the interim upgrade will improve safety, capacity and efficiency by adjusting lane configurations to provide more efficient access to Sugar Road and the Sunshine Motorway. The upgrade is also designed to improve traffic flow and enhance the overall operations of the Mooloolaba Road bridge over the Sunshine Motorway.

Due to current market conditions, construction tenders received for the project were not consistent with initial funding estimates.

As a result, the scope of this interim project is being re-assessed against longer-term planning to determine the most appropriate investment decision.

Longer-term planning includes investigations into a long-term solution to improve traffic flow and safety on the Sunshine Motorway from the Buderim-Mooloolaba Road interchange to Maroochydore Road.

Planning for this intersection will consider other projects that share the same corridor, including the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line project.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Increases traffic flow
  • Reduces peak hour congestion
  • Reduces interchange queuing
  • Reduces travel time
  • Contributes to economy
  • Better active transport
  • Improves ride quality

Key features

  • Extending right-turn lanes in both directions on the Mooloolaba Road overpass to increase storage capacity.
  • Providing 2 dedicated left-turn lanes from Sugar Road to Mooloolaba Road.
  • Providing 2 dedicated left-turn lanes from Mooloolaba Road to Sugar Road.
  • Widening the road to accommodate the additional lanes.
  • Slope stability works at the south-bound on-ramp to the Sunshine Motorway to support road widening.
  • Installing signalised pedestrian crossings at the Mooloolaba Road and Sunshine Motorway southbound exit ramp intersection and at the Mooloolaba Road and Sugar Road intersection.
  • Road resurfacing.
  • Providing a mix of dedicated on-road bike lanes and off-road paths, including an off-road bike path west-bound on the bridge.
  • Improving lighting.

Funding

This project is fully funded by the Queensland Government.

Total investment
$15 million
Queensland Government
$15 million

Current status

Design is now complete.