Coomera Connector

The Coomera Connector (sometimes referred to as the Second M1), is a future state-controlled north-south transport corridor between Loganholme and Nerang, east of the Pacific Motorway (M1) and the heavy train line.

The new road will be an alternative to the M1, providing more transport capacity to support the rapidly growing residential and business communities in the northern Gold Coast and neighbouring Logan areas.

The complete gazetted corridor extends for 45km between the Logan Motorway and Pacific Motorway interchange in Loganholme and Nerang–Broadbeach Road in Nerang. 

The Coomera Connector will be delivered in sections: 

  • Southern section - Stage 1 between Coomera and Nerang will be delivered in 3 packages:
    • Stage 1 North: Shipper Drive, Coomera to Helensvale Road, Helensvale
    • Stage 1 Central: Helensvale Road, Helensvale to Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar
    • Stage 1 South: Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar to Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang.

Coomera Connector alignment map

Coomera Connector

Video Transcript

The M1 is a key part of Australia’s national land transport network.

Rapidly expanding residential and industrial communities and high levels of projected population growth between Brisbane and the Gold Coast are contributing to the increasing congestion on the M1.

The Queensland Government is planning a new transport corridor that will take pressure off the M1, increasing safety for all road users.

Starting in the south at Nerang Broadbeach Road at Nerang, the new Coomera Connector corridor will be located to the east of the M1 and will travel through the busy growth centre of Coomera and connect with the Logan and Pacific Motorway interchanges.

The corridor will be wide enough for up to 6 lanes of traffic and will include provision for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians.

While still in the early planning phase at present, the Coomera Connector is one of a number of options being considered to address congestion issues on the M1.

The Coomera Connector is expected to play a complementary role to the M1, cutting travel time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by reducing the number of trips taken on the M1, while also improving connections and providing more transport options for communities in the growing northern Gold Coast corridor.

To find out more about the Coomera Connector, visit tmr.qld.gov.au/coomeraconnector

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

Key features

  • Relieve pressure on the M1 by providing an alternative route for local traffic and additional crossings of the Logan, Albert, Coomera and Nerang rivers. 
  • Provide improved connections and accessibility to more transport options on the northern Gold Coast.
  • Improve travel time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by reducing the number of local trips on the M1.
  • Improve safety on the M1 by reducing congestion and potential queuing at interchanges.
  • Provide more reliable travel times between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Background

The Coomera Connector (formerly known as the Intra Regional Transport Corridor) will be a key link in an expanded road transport network between Loganholme and the Gold Coast, where residential and business communities are growing rapidly.

Since the 1990s, the corridor has been identified in various public planning documents, such as published street directories, regional transport plans, planning studies and City of Gold Coast planning schemes.

A joint 2015 study between TMR and City of Gold Coast confirmed the corridor as a future strategic transport link that will relieve traffic congestion on the M1 and surrounding local roads.

The Coomera Connector was formally declared a future state-controlled road, confirmed in the Queensland Government Gazette in 3 sections, the:

  • Nerang to Coomera section on 18 March 2016
  • Coomera to Stapylton section on 12 May 2017
  • Stapylton to Loganholme section on 15 March 2019.

Formal confirmation of the corridor in the Queensland Government Gazette allows the corridor to be protected from new development and provides certainty for property owners, business and residential communities on the northern Gold Coast.

Our team continues to liaise with property owners when dealing with land sales and development applications. Early acquisition of properties by TMR may occur in some circumstances. 

Community consultation

Initial community consultation on the Coomera Connector was undertaken in late 2019.

The consultation program included a series of 10 community drop-in sessions along the 45km project corridor, plus online engagement activities.

There was significant interest from the community with 3200 visits to the website, more than 2000 people visiting the community drop-in sessions to talk with the project team, and 700 pieces of feedback received.

A telephone survey of 1000 residents and businesses revealed 4 out of 5 people in the project corridor area support the introduction of the Coomera Connector.

Further consultation was carried out in late 2020 and early 2021.

Read more about community consultation for Coomera Connector (Stage 1) and Coomera Connector (Future stages) projects.

26 Projects in Coomera Connector

The map shows the locality of the proposed Booral Road and Boundary Road intersection upgrade. Hervey Bay is located north-east of the project location. A solid blue line indicates the project extent, which encompasses the Booral Road and Boundary Road intersection, and also extends along Booral Road to the north past the Emerald Park Way intersection and to the south along Booral Road past the proposed new Walkers Road intersection. Walkers Road has been realigned to access Booral Road to the south of the Booral Road and Boundary Road intersection. The local road network, including where Booral Road turns into Elizabeth Street, is also highlighted on the map.

Booral Road and Boundary Road (Urangan), intersection upgrade

Detailed design is underway for a proposed upgrade of the Booral Road and Boundary Road intersection at Urangan.

Alternative text: The map shows the locality of the proposed Booral Road, Bunya Creek floodway and Main Street intersection upgrade. Nikenbah is located to the north and Hervey Bay to the north-east. Bunya Creek is located just north west of the proposed project location. A solid dark blue line indicates the project extent, which encompasses the Booral Road and Main Street intersection as well as the Bunya Creek floodway along Booral Road, which is located just west of the intersection. The local road network, including Woods Road and Vanderwolfe Road are also highlighted on the map.

Booral Road, Bunya Creek floodway and Main Street intersection upgrade, planning

Planning is underway to improve flood immunity and safety on a section of Booral Road at Bunya Creek, including the Main Street intersection.

No image supplied

Brisbane to Sunshine Coast Rail Corridor Strategy

We are developing a rail corridor vision and a staged program of rail priorities to 2051 on the North Coast Line between Brisbane and Gympie North.

Looking north towards an 8 span, 260 metre long concrete bridge structure over Deep Creek with construction crews on the bridge completing the final layer of pavement in preparation for linemarking. There is a bio-retention basin (like a sediment pond) in the foreground.

Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Section D

The $1.162 billion Section D: Woondum to Curra project is a new 26km, 4-lane divided highway between the existing Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, south of Gympie and Curra.

No image supplied

Bruce Highway (Gympie – Maryborough), Tiaro Bypass, construct four lane bypass

Planning is complete and the detailed design stage has commenced for a new four-lane section of the Bruce Highway to the east of Tiaro. The project will increase the flood immunity, safety and efficiency of the Bruce Highway and future-proof the road to cater for growing traffic volumes. It will also remove a significant number of heavy vehicles from the Tiaro township, improving safety and liveability for residents.

No image supplied

Bruce Highway—Cooroy to Curra

This project involves a 62km realignment and upgrade of the Bruce Highway to 4 lanes between Cooroy and Curra and is among Queensland's highest priority road projects.

No image supplied

Bundaberg Integrated Transport Strategy, planning

The Bundaberg Integrated Transport Strategy is being jointly developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Bundaberg Regional Council to develop an overarching framework that aims to integrate plans and policies, current and future, relating to the movement of people and services.

No image supplied

Bundaberg Port Rail Link Study

In October 2007 Transport and Main Roads (then Queensland Transport) engaged GHD to undertake a study to identify a rail corridor (for freight traffic) to connect the Port of Bundaberg to the existing rail network via the North Coast line. The study report determined that protection of the corridor within the local government planning scheme was not warranted at the time, and the project was closed.

Coomera Connector Future stages Foxwell street - October 2023

Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera, planning

Planning is underway for the future stages of the Coomera Connector – the remaining 29km between Loganholme and Coomera.

Artist's impression of a road crossing a river

Coomera Connector (Stage 1)

The Stage 1 section of the Coomera Connector between Coomera and Nerang has been identified as the priority section to be built first.

No image supplied

Coomera Connector Stage 1 Central

Coomera Connector (Stage 1) is around 16km long and will be delivered in 3 construction packages. Stage 1 Central, which is currently in the design phase, is the 8km section from Helensvale Road to Smith Street Motorway.

No image supplied

Coomera Connector Stage 1 North

Coomera Connector (Stage 1) is around 16km and will be delivered in 3 construction packages. Stage 1 North, which is currently under construction, is the 4km section from Shipper Drive to Helensvale Road.

No image supplied

Coomera Connector Stage 1 South

Design phase is underway for the Coomera Connector Stage 1 South package from Smith Street Motorway to Nerang-Broadbeach Road.

No image supplied

D'Aguilar Highway (Yarraman – Kingaroy), various locations, improve safety

Construction and design works are underway for upgrades at various locations as part of a program of works to improve the D'Aguilar Highway between Yarraman and Kingaroy.

Flood resilience works

The department is improving the flood immunity and resilience of the state-controlled road network at 27 priority sites.

No image supplied

Gympie – Brooloo Road, design active transport crossings

Detailed design is underway for active transport bridges and pathways to connect Southside to Gympie's CBD and surrounds.

No image supplied

Isis Highway (Bundaberg – Childers), various locations, improve safety

The department will improve safety on a 40km stretch of the Isis Highway from Airport Drive to the Bruce Highway.

No image supplied

Maryborough - Hervey Bay Road and Pialba - Burrum Heads Road, upgrade intersection

The upgrade of the Maryborough - Hervey Bay Road and Pialba - Burrum Heads Road intersection in Eli Waters will improve traffic movement and the safety of motorists, pedestrians and bicycle riders.

No image supplied

Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road, Ibis Boulevard and Fairway Drive, intersection upgrade, business case

Planning is underway for an upgrade of the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road, Ibis Boulevard and Fairway Drive intersection.

No image supplied

Monto – Mount Perry Road progressive sealing

The department is progressively upgrading and sealing the gravel sections of Monto - Mount Perry Road to improve road user safety and comfort, and reduce future maintenance requirements. 

Pialba–Burrum Heads Road, O’Regan Creek, upgrade existing floodway project location map

Pialba–Burrum Heads Road, O’Regan Creek, upgrade existing floodway

This upgrade will improve flood resilience for Hervey Bay and surrounding communities and involves pavement realignment, widening and culvert upgrades.

Landslip on Gold Coast - Springbrook Road

Southern Queensland 2022 flood reconstruction works

Repairs are underway across southern Queensland after extensive and severe damage to the state-controlled road network was caused by multiple heavy rainfall and flooding events in 2022.

No image supplied

Tin Can Bay Road and Bayside Road, construct roundabout

Construction will commence this year on a new roundabout at the intersection of Tin Can Bay Road and Bayside Road, at Tin Can Bay.

Artist's impression of the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility

Torbanlea manufacturing facility

A new facility is being constructed in the Maryborough region, to manufacture the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program fleet. 

No image supplied

Torbanlea – Pialba Road, various locations, upgrade intersections and floodways

Work is underway on flood immunity and intersection upgrades along sections of Torbanlea – Pialba Road between Beelbi Creek and Takura.