|
|
|
|
|
| M1 A1 | Pacific Motorway, Gateway Motorway & Bruce Highway (M1 / A1) - Brisbane River to Bald Hills |
Statistics:
Route Numbering:
General Information:
Gateway Motorway:
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:
- 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.
- 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
- July 2009: Upgraded Gateway Motorway north of Gateway Bridge opened to traffic. 8
- 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. 9
- June 2010: Demolition of the old Gateway Motorway Overpass (now Southern Cross Way) over Airport Drive in preparation of new overpass. 10
Click here for construction photos between Brisbane River and Bald Hills
Click here for photos of the former alignment between Brisbane River and Bald Hills
Click here for photos of the former alignment between Brisbane River and Ball Hills signposted as Southern Cross Way
| Brisbane River to Bald Hills | Bald Hills to Brisbane River | |||
| Preview: | Description: | Preview: | Description: | |
 |
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: Start of Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Bruce Hwy (M1) and Gateway Arterial Rd (M3) at Bald Hills, May 2018. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 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 |
 |
Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign next to the Wyampa Rd overpass at Bald Hills, March 2006. |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge approaching Southern Cross Way at Eagle Farm, July 2011. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Bracken Ridge Rd at Bald Hills, March 2019. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2011. Image © Dean Sherry |
|
 |
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 |
 |
Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign a Deagon, March 2019. Image © Dean Sherry |
|
 |
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 Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, March 2019. Image © Dean Sherry |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Banyo approaching Nudgee Rd interchange, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, May 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Nudgee Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Nudgee Rd and Service Centre interchange at Banyo, March 2019. Image © Dean Sherry |
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign with erroneous route number at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, May 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Nudgee, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Bicentennial Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, May 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign with at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Boondall, May 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Boondall approaching Bicentennial Rd, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Rd, May 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Bicentennial Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Rd, 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 at Nudgee Beach approaching Nudgee Rd, May 2018. 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 |
 |
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 |
|
 |
Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Boondall, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Nudgee Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Nudgee Rd interchange at Nudgee Beach, March 2019. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from May 2018. Image © Dean Sherry |
|
 |
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 approaching Southern Cross Way (former Gateway Mwy) at Banyo, July 2018. |
|
 |
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 Banyo approaching Southern Cross Way (former Gateway Mwy), December 2009. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Taigum approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26) and Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Southern Cross Way interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Southern Cross Way interchange, Banyo, March 2019. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2011. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from August 2009. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from December 2009. Image © Dean Sherry |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Taigum approaching Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Moreton Dr, Brisbane Airport, December 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Taigum approaching Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40), July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Moreton Dr, Brisbane Airport, December 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Deagon Deviation: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Deagon Deviation (SR26) interchange at Taigum, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Moreton Drive Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Moreton Dr at Brisbane Airport, December 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Depot Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Depot Rd (SR27 / SR40) interchange at Deagon, July 2018. Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Moreton Drive Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Moreton Dr at Brisbane Airport, December 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2019. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009. Image © Dean Sherry |
 |
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 |
|
 |
Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2009. 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 |
|
 |
Bracken Ridge road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at Bracken Ridge at the Bracken Ridge Rd interchange, March 2019. Image © Dean Sherry |
 |
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 here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012. Image © Rob Tilley |
|
 |
Reassurance Sign: Reassurance sign 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 here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009. Image © Dean Sherry |
|||
 |
Reassurance Sign: Reassurance sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Bracken Ridge Rd, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|||
 |
RD Sign: Distance sign at Bracken Ridge, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley |
|||
| Click here for the continuation of M1 as Bruce Highway Click here for the continuation of Gateway Mwy (M1) between Rochedale and Brisbane River |
||||
1 Department of Transport and Main Roads, The State Road Network of Queensland, 30 June 2010
2 Queensland Roads Edition No 1 March 2006
3 Queensland Roads, Edition No 8, March 2010
4 Queensland Roads, Edition No 4, September 2007
5 Queensland Motorways Annual Report 1996-1997
6 Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade Project well underway, 26 September 2007
7 Queensland Cabinent and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Extra Gateway Motorway lane opens – with more to come, 12 September 2008
8 Queensland Cabinent and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade delivers seven kilometres of new motorway, 17 July 2009
9 Sydney Morning Herald, Gateway renamed the Southern Cross Way, 17 September 2010
10 Queensland Cabinent and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Demolition begins on old Gateway Motorway Overpass, 2 June 2010
Last updated: 08-Jul-2020 13:28
This site © Paul Rands. All rights reserved. Some portions © (copyright) by their respective and credited owners. Permission must be obtained before using any images from this site. For details, please email by clicking here.
