Gold Coast Highway

Infobox Australian Road
road_name = Gold Coast Highway
route_

route_

route_

photo =
caption = Formerly
length = 35
direction = North-South
start = Binstead Way
Helensvale, Gold Coast
finish =
est =
through = Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads
route =
exits =

The Gold Coast Highway in Queensland, Australia links the coastal suburbs of the Gold Coast. 33km in length, the highway passes through popular tourist resorts such as Southport, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads and Currumbin. It is characterised by a variety of urban forms, ranging from high-density high rises in Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and Broadbreach, low rise apartments in Palm Beach and Bilinga, shopping at Southport and Mermaid Beach historic motels and low-rise residential areas at Miami and light industry at Arundel. It has coastal views at Currumbin Creek and passes alongside the Burleigh Heads National Park.

History

It was formerly part of the Pacific Highway, when it handled transport between Queensland and New South Wales through the Gold Coast. The Pacific Highway now runs about 8 km to the west as the M1.

Road Conditions

The highway is divided with 4 lanes along the entire length except Labrador (2 lanes) and a few 6 lane segments (often as bus lanes). Traffic hazards include rear-end collisions at traffic lights, pedestrians crossing (many have been killed) and 'hooning' (speeding). The highway at Surfers Paradise is subject to conjestion during events, notably the Indy racing carnival, when it is reduced to 2 lanes.

The speed limit is mosly 70km/h. It is 60km/h at Palm Beach, Surfers Paradise and Labrador. It is 50km/h at Burleigh Heads and 80km/h north of Captain Cook Drive (Arundel).

Current Projects and Capacity improvements

1. Labrador: Between Government Road and North St, along a section also called Frank Street. The Highway is being duplicated from a two lane road. A new bridge with a 4 lane crossing has been completed across Loders Creek in 2007. Single lane sections north of the bridge, will be upgraded in next few years. The road upgrade will result in a throughfare similar to that in Surfers Paradise, with a narrow median and sections of bus lane constructed as a third lane through traffic lights.cite web | publisher = Queensland Government Department of Main Roads | title = Gold Coast Highway - Government Road to North Street | work = Road Projects | date = 2007-10-29 | url = http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/publicCR.nsf/0/2B64FAF59AEA44C24A25735A00168989?OpenDocument | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-12-17 ]

2. Mermaid Beach: During 2008 bus lanes will be extended as well as changes to U-Turns, traffic lights, lighting and the median strip.cite web | publisher = Queensland Government Department of Main Roads | title = Gold Coast Highway upgrade and bus lanes - Broadbeach to Miami | work = Road Projects | date = 2007-10-29 | url = http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/publicCR.nsf/0/115357F087B6FFA04A25735A001717D7?OpenDocument | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-12-17 ]

3. Tugun: The most notorious "bottle-neck" is at Tugun, where the Gold Coast Highway joins the Pacific Highway 8km north of Coolangatta has been eliminated with the opening of the Tugun Bypass in June 2008. Improvements at the Tugun end of the highway are planned.

Public Transport

As of 17 December 2007, the highway has a 5 minute frequency bus service between Southport and Burleigh Heads during the day and a half-hourly 24-hr bus service between Southport and Tweed Heads. This is operated by Surfside for Translink. Bus lanes are in place at some stages and will be consolidated into a continuous corridor in future. Light rail or a busway is also being considered given that more than half of all public transport trips on the Gold Coast use the highway corridor.

See also

*Highways in Australia
*List of highways in Queensland

References

External links

* [http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/MRWEB%5CPROD%5CWebCams.nsf/Show+Cams?OpenForm&cam=Gold+Coast+Highway Main Roads Web Cameras - Gold Coast Highway]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/goldcoast/stories/s1101545.htm ABC - The Gold Coast Highway: who knew it was beautiful?]