Heavy Coastal Congestion and Ridgevale Drive Closure: Tuesday Traffic Update

Coastal Corridor: Single-Lane Constraints in Miami and Burleigh

Commuters traveling along the coastal strip this Tuesday, 17 March 2026, should prepare for significant delays as Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 (GCLR3) construction enters a high-intensity phase. The Gold Coast Highway is currently restricted to a single lane in both directions between Dawn Parade in Miami and George Street East in Burleigh Heads. A strictly enforced 40 km/h speed limit is in effect through this zone, and motorists are advised to allow for an additional 15 to 20 minutes of travel time during peak morning and afternoon periods.

• Burleigh Heads: Heavy congestion is expected near the intersections of Christine Avenue and West Burleigh Road. Lower East Street remains closed to through traffic for infrastructure upgrades.
• Mermaid Beach: Planned roadworks on the Gold Coast Highway service road near Nobby Beach continue to restrict local access.

Northern Gold Coast: Coomera Connector and Smith Street Motorway

In the northern suburbs, major works on the Coomera Connector Stage 1 (Central package) are impacting local arterial flow. The bridge overpass at Ridgevale Drive is fully closed as part of the 2026 bridge replacement program. Motorists who typically use this route to cross the M1 corridor must follow posted detours via the Smith Street Motorway.

Additionally, at Arundel, the Smith Street Motorway off-ramp toward Southport remains restricted due to ongoing maintenance. Drivers heading toward the Health and Knowledge Precinct are encouraged to use the Napper Road or Olsen Avenue exits to avoid potential bottlenecks at the motorway merge points.

Hinterland and Mudgeeraba Alert

Residents in the hinterland are facing intermittent stoppages today. Major reconstruction and landslip remediation works are active at 28 different sites along the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road between Neranwood and Pine Creek Road. Stop/slow traffic control measures are in place, which may result in cumulative delays of up to 15 minutes for those traveling toward Springbrook.

In Mudgeeraba, Berrigans Road remains under a full closure between Gold Coast-Springbrook Road and Mark Way for essential pavement rehabilitation. Local detours are currently active via regional arterial roads.

Public Transport: Bus Delays and Rail Status

Translink has issued a service alert for today, Tuesday, 17 March, regarding bus operations in the southern corridor. Commuters should expect delays of approximately 10 minutes for services traveling through Burleigh Heads due to the highway lane reductions. Some bus stops in the Miami and Burleigh precincts have been temporarily relocated to accommodate track installation.

On the Gold Coast Rail Line, regular weekday schedules have resumed following the completion of weekend maintenance between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes. However, commuters are reminded to check the Translink journey planner for any real-time signaling updates, as minor residual delays were noted earlier this week.