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 the former alignment between Loganholme and Eight Mile Plains.

Brisbane River to Eight Mile Plains

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Gateway Bridge (M1) as it crosses Brisbane River approaching Lytton Rd (SR24) at Murrarie, August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Gateway Bridge:

Gateway Bridge (M1) as it crosses Brisbane River at Murrarie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Toll Plaza:

Toll plaza at the southern end of Gateway Bridge at Murrarie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Toll Plaza:

Toll plaza at the southern end of Gateway Bridge at Murrarie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Sign:

Freeway green AD sign on the Lytton Rd (SR24) overpass at Murrarie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Port Of Brisbane Motorway:

Gateway Mwy (M1) as it passes under Port of Brisbane Mwy (then SR42) at Murrarie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign:

Freeway green AD sign approaching Wynnum Rd (SR23), Murrarie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign approaching Wynnum Rd (SR23), Tingalpa, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Tingalpa, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, March 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange at Belmont. March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign:

Freeway green AD sign approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange at Belmont. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign:

Freeway green AD sign on the off ramp to Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange at Belmont. March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Cleveland Road:

Intersection directional sign assembly on the off ramp to Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) at Belmont, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Distance Sign:

Freeway green reassurance directional sign at Belmont, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign:

Freeway green AD sign approaching Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road Interchange:

Freeway green sign on the Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2), Mackenzie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign:

Freeway green signs on the off ramp to Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2), Mackenzie, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Distance Sign:

Freeway green reassurance directional sign at Mackenzie, March 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

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

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Miles Platting Rd interchange at Rochedale, approaching Pacific Mwy (M1) and the M2 section of Gateway Mwy, March 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Pacific Motorway:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at at Rochedale, at the interchange with Pacific Mwy (M1) and the M2 section of Gateway Mwy, March 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006.

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.