Heavy Delays on Gold Coast Highway and Smith Street Motorway This Tuesday

Commuter Alert: Significant Disruptions Across Major Arteries

Good morning, Gold Coast. For today, Tuesday, 10 March 2026, commuters are advised to prepare for a challenging morning on the roads. While the M1 is largely flowing well, major infrastructure projects along the coastal corridor and in the northern growth areas are creating significant bottlenecks that will impact travel times throughout the day.

Coastal Corridor: Light Rail Construction Intensifies

The Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 project remains the most significant source of congestion for coastal travelers. As of this morning, the Gold Coast Highway is reduced to a single lane in both directions between Dawn Parade in Miami and George Street East in Burleigh Heads. These restrictions are part of a high-impact construction phase as crews focus on laying the concrete track slabs and finalizing utility relocations. Northbound motorists in Burleigh Heads will also face a single-lane arrangement between Tweed Street and West Burleigh Road, which is scheduled to remain in place through early April.

• Miami: Expect slow-moving traffic near the Christine Avenue intersection due to pedestrian safety upgrades.
• Burleigh Heads: U-turn locations have been altered near George Street East; follow all on-road signage carefully.

To avoid the heaviest delays, motorists are encouraged to use Bermuda Street or the M1 Pacific Motorway as alternative north-south routes during the morning and afternoon peaks.

Motorway and Northern Corridor Updates

Traffic on the M1 Pacific Motorway is generally following standard weekday patterns, but drivers should remain vigilant for localized maintenance. While the Varsity Lakes to Tugun (VL2T) upgrade is complete, routine out-of-hours works near the Tallebudgera Creek bridge may result in temporary 40 km/h speed zones. In the north, construction of the Coomera Connector (the M9) continues to impact the Smith Street Motorway. Significant traffic changes are in effect near the Smith Street off-ramp at Molendinar and around the Ridgevale Drive overpass, where bridge construction is progressing. Expect slower-than-usual speeds on the approach to the M1 from Parkwood and Arundel.

Hinterland and Local Events

In the Hinterland, reconstruction efforts continue on the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road. Stop/slow traffic control is active between Neranwood and Pine Creek Road to repair previous landslip damage. Additionally, local traffic in Benowa and Ashmore is expected to be heavier than usual this morning due to a major International Women's Day event at the RACV Royal Pines Resort, which may cause delays on Ross Street and Ashmore Road until approximately 9:30 AM.

Public Transport Alerts

Translink reports that Gold Coast rail services are operating on a standard Tuesday timetable. However, bus commuters should be aware of several stop closures linked to light rail construction. The Miami Hotel stop (Stop ID 300364) remains closed, with a temporary replacement located 80 meters south near Kelly Avenue. In Burleigh Heads, stops at Second Avenue and Anzac Parade are also out of service. Passengers using routes 700 and 777 are advised to check the Translink app for the most current service updates.