Road Photos & Information: Queensland
Pacific Motorway, Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway (M1 / A1)
Brisbane River to Bald Hills
Construction Photos
Statistics:
- Length:
- 1802 km (Brisbane River to Bald Hills: 22 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:
- Eagle Farm, Brisbane Airport, Banyo, Nudgee, Nudgee Beach, Boondall, Taigum, Deagon, Bracken Ridge and Bald Hills
Route Numbering:
- 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.
History:
- 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.
- 9 March 2007: Work starts on second Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. 5
- July 2009: Upgraded Gateway Motorway north of Gateway Bridge opened to traffic. 6
- 2010: A 7 km stretch of the Gateway Motorway that runs between Eagle Farm and Nudgee Road at Banyo, renamed Southern Cross Way after realignment of Gateway Motorway. 7
- June 2010: Demolition of the old Gateway Motorway Overpass (now Southern Cross Way) over Airport Drive in preparation of new overpass. 8
This page concentrates on construction photos between Brisbane River and Bald Hills
Brisbane River to Bald Hills
Gateway Motorway Construction:
Looking north on Gateway Bridge (M1) at Eagle Farm, towards the construction of Gateway Mwy on a new alignment. March 2009.
Image © Rob Tilley
Old Gateway Motorway:
Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Old Gateway Mwy (now Southern Cross Way) at Eagle Farm, August 2009.
Image © Rob Tilley
Old Gateway Motorway:
Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Old Gateway Mwy (now Southern Cross Way) at Eagle Farm, August 2009.
Image © Rob Tilley
Widening Works:
Widening works on Gateway Mwy at Banyo, approaching Nudgee Rd, March 2009.
Image © Rob Tilley
Bald Hills to Brisbane River
NEW Second Bridge Construction:
View of second bridge being built over Brisbane River from Eagle Farm, August 2009.
Image © Rob Tilley
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 Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade Project well underway, 26 September 2007.
6 QLD Government, Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade delivers seven kilometres of new motorway, 17 July 2009.
7 Sydney Morning Herald, Gateway renamed the Southern Cross Way, 17 September 2010.
8 QLD Government, Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Demolition begins on old Gateway Motorway Overpass, 2 June 2010.