New look for major motorway “curve”

Work is set to start late this year on stage one of the $2 billion Gateway Motorway to Bruce Highway upgrade with major changes at a key location.

Graphics in the upgrade’s latest newsletter from Transport and main Roads (TMR) show the size and scale of plans for the “Gateway curve”.

The intersection of the Gateway Motorway, Deagon Deviation and Bracken Ridge Road is used by tens of thousands of motorists every day.

Currently, the Gateway Motorway goes over Bracken Ridge Rd. But the upgrade will realign and drop the motorway down Bracken Ridge Road going above.

This will enable a “safe motorway speed” of 100km/h, consistent with the highway, increased capacity and reduced congestion.

There will also be a new Bracken Ridge Rd bridge over the Deagon Deviation and traffic signs at the intersection of Bracken Ridge Rd and Barfoot St.

TMR says detailed design work is under way for stage one – from Bracken Ridge to the Pine River - and the start of construction is subject to environmental approvals.

Preliminary design work is underway for stage two, on the Bruce Highway from the Gateway Motorway merge to Dohles Rocks Rd.

This will also see collector-distributor roads on both sides of the highway, with two new bridges across Pine River.

Three Community drop-in sessions are being held for the public to see designs and talk the project team. Session days and times are:

Saturday March 28 - Sandgate Scout Hall, 134 Brighton Rd, Sandgate, 9am-noon

Monday March 30 - Murrumba Downs Shopping Centre, cnr Dohles Rocks rd and Goodrich Rd, 2-5pm

Thursday April 16 - Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre, ground level near Kmart, 6-9pm.

Images supplied by TMR