Construction has begun in Pimpama on one of the city’s largest road and infrastructure projects.
The State Government is pouring $56 million into upgrading Yawalpah Road to meet the demand of the booming northern Gold Coast population.
The roadway will be transformed from a two-lane road into a four and five-lane urban road.
A new three-lane bridge will also be built over the existing rail line.
Division 1 Councillor Mark Hammel is welcoming the upgrades.
“The Yawalpah Road upgrade at Pimpama is going to improve safety and accessibility for road users in the area, plus it will reduce traffic congestion and travel times,” Cr Hammel says.
“There will be additional lanes and a new road over the rail bridge constructed for motorists as well as improved pedestrian crossings and shared pathways to encourage active travel,
“We will look after the safety of local wildlife by installing a 2.4 metre diameter fauna crossing to create a safe passage for wildlife between two areas of the reserve on the south and north side of the road.”
New trees and vegetation will also be planted, and a 366-year-old Tallowwood tree, the largest to the east of the M1, is being preserved.
Local residents and motorists are being told there will be “minimal disruptions”, however, there may be minor lane closures at times.
Construction includes:
- Two lanes west bound from Kerkin Road to Gawthern Drive
- Three lanes westbound from Gawthern Drive at Home Focus Pimpama
- New road over rail bridge providing three lanes westbound
- Maintain the existing road over rail bridge to provide for two eastbound lanes once the project is completed
- New signalised intersection with four pedestrian crossings at Yawalpah Road/Cunningham Drive North
- New left turn lane from Yawalpah Road to Gawthern Drive
- New pedestrian crossing at Dixon Drive between Pimpama Junction and McDonalds
- On-road bicycle lane and more than 3km of new shared path on the southern side of Yawalpah Road
For more details visit www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Services/Projects-works/Pimpama-Yawalpah-Road-upgrade
