Expressway - The Australian Highway Site: Road Photos & Information: QLD: SR2

Road Photos & Information: Queensland

Gold Coast Highway (State Route 2)

Statistics:

Length:: 40 km
Termini:: Northern: Pacific Mwy (M1) and Binstead Way (unnumbered), Helensvale; Southern: QLD-NSW Border, Bilinga
Miscellaneous:: Continues as Gold Coast Hwy (SR2) in New South Wales
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:: Bilinga, Tugun, Currumbin, Palm Beach, Burleigh Heads, Miami, Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, Southport, Labrador, Biggera Waters, Arundel and Helensvale

Route Numbering:

Current: 2
Former: 87 1 1
Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹: 11B (NSW Border to Broadbeach); 11A (Broadbeach to Helensvale)

General Information:

The Gold Coast Highway is the former Pacific Highway route between the NSW border and Helensvale.

The route is a mix of divided and undivided urban highway, which passes mostly along the coast, right through the heart of the Gold Coast. The route passes through light industrial areas, as well as commercial, residential and tourist areas.

History:

: December 1930: The main South Coast Road, which had originally been built as a series of small roads linking the dairying and sugar farms south of Brisbane to the main railway line, became the Pacific Highway. ²; 1985: Tweed Heads Bypass, Coolangatta Airport to Kennedy Dr, opened to traffic. ³; May 1996: ALT-NR1 route number replaced with State Route 2, as part of the Main Roads Route Marking Review of January 1996. ⁴; October 2006: Construction commences on widening Gold Coast Hwy between Robert St in Labrador and Stevens St in Southport. ⁶; February 2008: Completion of the widening to four lanes between Robert and Steven Streets. ⁶; 3 June 2008: Tugun Bypass opens to traffic. ⁵ National Route 1 decommissioned and replaced by State Route 2 between NSW Border and Tugun.; January 2009: Widening works to four lanes begin between Robert St and Broad St at Labrador. ⁶; 27 August 2009: Commissioning of newly constructed bus lanes between Broadbeach and Miami. ⁷; January 2010: Completion of widening between Robert and Broad Streets. ⁶; April 2010: Widening works to four lanes start between Broad St and Government Rd at Labrador. ⁶; February 2011: Construction of a new intersection north of the Bilinga Interchange that provides northbound traffic with a right-turn lane direct to Coolangatta Road from the old Pacific Highway Tweed bypass. ⁸; May 2011: Completion of widening between Broad St and Government Rd. ⁶; June 2011: Works begin on Stage One of the Gold Coast light rail system between Southport and Broadbeach. ⁹

¹ QLD Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland state-controlled roads and region maps, South Coast Region, November 2022.
² QLD Government, Transport and Main Roads, From Bulldust to Beef Roads and Beyond: Main Roads –The first 50 years.
³ Sam Laybutt (Ozroads).
⁴ QLD Government, Transport and Main Roads, Head Office Mapping Section, via email correspondence.
⁵ Courier Mail, Tugun bypass opens - finally, 3 June 2008.
⁶ QLD Government, Transport and Main Roads, Projects, Gold Coast Highway - Labrador Government Road to Stevens Street Upgrade.
⁷ QLD Government, Ministerial Media Statements, Gold Coast Highway upgrade and bus lanes commissioned, 27 August 2009.
⁸ QLD Government, Transport and Main Roads, Projects, Gold Coast Highway Southern Corridor – Bilinga Interchange Proposed Works.
⁹ GoldLinQ, Constructing Light Rail, Project Timeline.