Length:

1802 km (Eight Mile Plains to Brisbane River: 16 km)

Termini:

Northern: Draper St (unnumbered), Portsmith

Southern: NSW Border at Tugun

Miscellaneous:

Continues as Pacific Mwy (M1) in NSW

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Eight Mile Plains, Rochedale, Mackenzie, Belmont, Tingalpa and Murarrie

Current: M1

Former: 1 1 20

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

N332

General Information:

The M1 / A1 corridor is the main coastal route from the NSW border to the northern tip of the east coast of Australia, and links major cities and towns with Brisbane, and beyond the NSW border, Sydney.

The Gateway Motorway passes through Brisbane's eastern suburbs, and services mostly residential and industrial areas, both north and south of the Brisbane River. It provides access to ports and the airport.

The Gateway Motorway features dual bridges over the Brisbane River, once known as the Gateway Bridges, but now named Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, named after an Australian senior public servant and administrator. The bridges operate under an electronic tolling system where motorists pay via a transponder or temporary online account.

The bridges have a number of interesting features including: ²

A height clearance of 55 m over the high tide mark of the Brisbane River, to allow the largest of ships to pass safely under the bridge.

A clear span width of at least 230 m so ships of varying size and width could safely manoeuvre under the bridge.

A maximum 80 m height of the superstructure (including the height of the lamp posts and direction signs) so as not to interfere with flight paths of aircraft taking off or landing at Brisbane Airport.

At the time of its completion, the bridge boasted a number of Australian and world class achievements, including: ²

The longest cantilevered concrete box girder main river span, at a length of 260 m.

An erection truss weighing 650 t.

Stressing cables in the approach spans were the highest loaded cables in a structure in Australia, with 2200 t of 12 mm low relaxation stressing strand.

Bridge bearings, with a maximum tested load of 4300 t, were the biggest pot bearings made in Australia.

Gateway Motorway:

June 1980: The Gateway Bridge Company was established to oversee construction of the Gateway Bridge and, following construction, to maintain the bridge and collect tolls. ³

August 1980 Work began on the six-lane Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. ²

December 1985: The Gateway Bridge and motorway approaches were completed.

1986: The Gateway Arterial was constructed in two stages and was completed.

11 January 1986: The original Gateway Bridge was officially opened. ⁴ Around 200,000 people attended the opening festivities and walked the new bridge.

1995: Construction began on a southern extension to the Logan Motorway, creating the Southern Brisbane Bypass, which eventually was renamed to Gateway Motorway. ⁵

13 May 1997: The Southern Brisbane Bypass was opened to traffic by Vaughan Johnson, then-Minister for Transport and Main Roads. ⁵

9 March 2007: Work starts on second Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. ⁶

September 2008: An extra lane on the Gateway Motorway over Wynnum Road opened to traffic. ⁷

This page concentrates on construction photos between Loganholme and Eight Mile Plains.

Eight Mile Plains to Brisbane River

Workzone:

Photo showing works for northbound carriageway, and traffic travelling in both directions on the southbound carriageway at Mansfield, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Workzone:

Photo showing works for northbound carriageway, and traffic travelling in both directions on the southbound carriageway at Carindale, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign at Carindale approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Old Cleveland Road:

Reduced lanes and freeway green AD sign on the Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) off ramp at Carindale, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Freeway Green Reassurance Directional Sign:

Freeway green distance sign on temporary gantry at Tingalpa, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Wynnum Road:

Temporary sign at the Wynnum Rd (SR23) interchange at Tingalpa, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching the interchange with Port Of Brisbane Mwy (SR42 (now M4)) at Tingalpa, March 2009. Note the incorrect SR61 route number.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching the interchange with Port Of Brisbane Mwy (SR42 (now M4)) at Tingalpa, March 2009. Note the incorrect SR61 route number.

Image © Rob Tilley

Port of Brisbane Mwy Interchange:

Temporary sign on Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Port of Brisbane Mwy (SR42 (now M4)), March 2009. Note the incorrect SR61 route number.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Toll Sign:

Temporary tolling sign near Port of Brisbane Mwy (SR42 (now M4)) approaching the now removed toll plaza, Murrarie, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Lytton Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Lytton Rd (SR21), showing temporary lanes and overpass upgrade work, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

New Gantry & Second Bridge Construction:

Installation of the first of several new gantries on the Gateway Bridge (now Leo Hielscher Bridge) over Brisbane River at Murarrie, also note crane for construction of second bridge over the river, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Brisbane River to Eight Mile Plains

Lytton Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at Murarrie approaching Lytton Rd (SR24) interchange, with temporary barriers around widening works. March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Lytton Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at Murarrie approaching Lytton Rd (SR24) interchange, with temporary barriers around widening works and freeway green signs. March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Lytton Road & Port of Brisbane Motorway:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Lytton Rd (SR24) and the Port of Brisbane Mwy (SR42 (now M4)) in the distance, with new lanes under construction, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Lytton Road & Port of Brisbane Motorway:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with the Port of Brisbane Mwy (SR42 (now M4)) in the distance, with new lanes under construction on the right, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching Wynnum Rd (SR23), Tingalpa, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching Wynnum Rd (SR23), Tingalpa, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Narrow Lanes Sign:

Narrow lanes temporary sign at Tingalpa near Wynnum Rd (SR23) interchange, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Freeway Green Reassurance Directional Sign:

Freeway green distance sign on temporary gantry at Tingalpa, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Old Cleveland Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) at Belmont. Note the narrow lanes and temporary barriers whilst the northbound carriageway is being rebuilt. December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Old Cleveland Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) at Belmont. Note the narrow lanes and temporary barriers whilst the northbound carriageway is being rebuilt. December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Workzone:

Photo showing works for southbound carriageway, and traffic travelling in both directions on the northbound carriageway at Belmont, August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching on the off ramp to Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign on the off ramp to Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road Interchange:

Temporary sign gantry and lane works on Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2), Mackenzie, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Freeway Green Distance Sign:

Freeway green reassurance directional sign being reused at Mackenzie, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Temporary Advance Directional Sign:

Temporary AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Miles Platting Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at Rochdedale at the interchange with Miles Platting Rd, with the end of roadworks and AD sign with lane closure for Pacific Mwy (M1) and Gateway Mwy (M2), November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

¹ QLD Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads, The State Road Network of Queensland, 30 June 2010.
² QLD Government, Queensland Roads Edition No 1 March 2006.
³ QLD Government, Queensland Roads, Edition No 8, March 2010.
⁴ QLD Government, Queensland Roads, Edition No 4, September 2007.
⁵ QLD Government, Queensland Motorways Annual Report 1996-1997.
⁶ QLD Government, Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade Project well underway, 26 September 2007.
⁷ QLD Government, Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Extra Gateway Motorway lane opens – with more to come, 12 September 2008.