Expect Delays: Smith St Off-Ramp Closure and Light Rail Works Impact Friday Commute

Gold Coast Traffic and Commute Update: Friday, March 13, 2026

Good morning, Gold Coast. As we head into the final commute of the week, motorists should prepare for a challenging morning on several major arteries. A combination of planned roadworks on the Smith Street Motorway and intensifying construction for the Light Rail Stage 3 extension is expected to cause significant bottlenecks throughout the day.

Major Disruption: Smith Street Motorway Off-Ramp Closure

The most critical update for northern commuters today is the total closure of the eastbound access ramp to Smith Street from the Smith Street Motorway in Arundel. According to Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) status reports, this closure is part of planned roadworks related to the Coomera Connector (M9) project. Commuters who usually transition from the motorway toward the Gold Coast University Hospital or Griffith University precinct should seek alternative routes early. Expect heavy congestion and back-fill on the M1 near the Gaven and Helensvale interchanges as traffic diverts to local connectors.

Coastal Corridor: Gold Coast Highway Bottlenecks

Traveling south remains slow as the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 project enters a high-impact phase. The Gold Coast Highway is currently reduced to a single lane in both directions between Dawn Parade in Miami and George Street East in Burleigh Heads. This arrangement is facilitating the installation of new concrete track slabs and utility relocations. Northbound motorists in Burleigh Heads will also find themselves restricted to a single lane between Tweed Street and West Burleigh Road. If your destination is the southern beaches, consider using Bermuda Street or the M1 to avoid the construction zones in Miami and Nobby Beach.

M1 Pacific Motorway and Northern Growth Areas

While the Varsity Lakes to Tugun (VL2T) upgrade is now complete, providing a smoother run through the southern end of the city, drivers should remain alert for routine out-of-hours maintenance. Speed reductions to 40 km/h may still be in place near the Tallebudgera Creek bridge. Further north, ongoing earthworks and bridge construction for the Coomera Connector continue around Helensvale Road and Molendinar, which may impact side-street flow during peak hours.

Public Transport and Translink Alerts

The Gold Coast train line is currently operational, but travelers should be aware of residual delays following signalling issues reported late Thursday night. Trains are running, but commuters should check the Translink app for real-time status updates. Furthermore, a major weekend track closure is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Saturday, March 14. If you rely on the rail network, today is your last day of full service before bus replacements take over for the weekend.

For those using the G:link, services are running to a standard Friday frequency. However, stay vigilant around the Miami corridor where tram testing and finishing works are occurring near pedestrian crossings.