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

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.

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

Click or tap here for construction photos between Brisbane River and Bald Hills
Click or tap here for photos of the former alignment between Brisbane River and Bald Hills
Click or tap here for photos of the former alignment of Gateway Motorway between Brisbane River and Ball Hills now signposted as Southern Cross Way

Brisbane River to Bald Hills

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge at Eagle Farm approaching Southern Cross Way, August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge approaching Southern Cross Way at Eagle Farm, August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge approaching Southern Cross Way at Eagle Farm, July 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Southern Cross Way Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Southern Cross Way at Eagle Farm, plus AD sign for Kingsford Smith Dr (SR25) interchange, July 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Kingsford Smith Drive:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Kingsford Smith Dr (SR25) interchange at Eagle Farm, August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Banyo approaching Nudgee Rd interchange, August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Nudgee Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Nudgee Rd and Service Centre interchange at Banyo, March 2019.

Image © Dean Sherry

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Nudgee, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bicentennial Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bicentennial Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange in Boondall, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Bicentennial Rd at Nudgee Beach, approaching the Gateway Mwy (M1) interchange. October 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Boondall, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Boondall approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26) and Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), March 2019.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Boondall approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26) and Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Taigum approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26) and Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Taigum approaching Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Taigum approaching Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Deagon Deviation:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Deagon Deviation (SR26) interchange at Taigum, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Depot Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40) interchange at Deagon, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2019. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bracken Ridge Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at Bracken Ridge at the Bracken Ridge Rd interchange, March 2019.

Image © Dean Sherry

Trailblazer:

Trailblazer at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the Bracken Ridge Rd interchange, Bracken Ridge, March 2019. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Dean Sherry

Trailblazer:

Trailblazer at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

RD Sign:

Distance sign at Bracken Ridge, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bald Hills to Brisbane River

Advance Directional Sign:

Start of Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Bruce Hwy (M1) and Gateway Arterial Rd (M3) at Bald Hills, May 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign next to the Wyampa Rd overpass at Bald Hills, March 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Bracken Ridge Rd at Bald Hills, March 2019. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2011.

Image © Dean Sherry

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign a Deagon, March 2019.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, March 2019.

Image © Dean Sherry

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with erroneous route number at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bicentennial Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Boondall, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Rd, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Rd, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Rd, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Beach Rd and the service centre, March 2019. Note the erroneous M1 route number.

Image © Dean Sherry

Nudgee Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Nudgee Rd interchange at Nudgee Beach, March 2019. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from May 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Southern Cross Way (former Gateway Mwy) at Banyo, July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Banyo approaching Southern Cross Way (former Gateway Mwy), December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Southern Cross Way interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Southern Cross Way interchange, Banyo, March 2019. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2011. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Moreton Dr, Brisbane Airport, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Moreton Dr, Brisbane Airport, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Moreton Drive Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Moreton Dr at Brisbane Airport, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Moreton Drive Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Moreton Dr at Brisbane Airport, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Variable Distance Sign:

Sign on the Gateway Mwy (M1) at Brisbane Airport near Kedron Brook showing travel times to next 3 interchanges, February 2015.

Image © Rob Tilley

Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at Eagle Farm as it uses the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge to cross the Brisbane River, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Signs:

AD signs over the lanes of Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge at Eagle Farm, approaching Lytton Rd (SR24) and Port of Brisbane Mwy (M4), February 2015. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley