Monday Commute Alert: Heavy Delays on Gold Coast Highway and Rail Impacts Begin

Coastal Bottlenecks: Light Rail Stage 3 Construction

Commuters heading through the coastal corridor should prepare for significant delays this Monday, 16 March 2026. The Gold Coast Highway remains the primary focal point for congestion as Light Rail Stage 3 construction enters a critical phase. Motorists will face single-lane reductions in both directions between Dawn Parade in Miami and West Burleigh Road. A strictly enforced 40 km/h speed limit is in place throughout this 6.7-kilometre stretch to ensure the safety of construction crews and road users. Northbound traffic through Burleigh Heads is expected to be particularly heavy between Tweed Street and George Street East, where lane configurations have been modified to facilitate track slab installation and rail delivery.

Public Transport: Late-Night Rail Closures and Bus Alerts

Translink has issued a major update for rail commuters today. Starting tonight, Monday 16 March, a series of late-night track closures will commence on the Gold Coast, Beenleigh, and Cleveland lines to facilitate essential maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. While daytime services are scheduled to run as normal, passengers are encouraged to check the Translink journey planner for the last service times if they intend to travel late this evening. Additionally, bus commuters in Ashmore should note that a temporary stop closure on Warrungen Way begins today and is expected to remain in effect until 23 March. Several bus stops in the Miami and Burleigh precincts remain relocated due to the ongoing light rail work; routes 700 and 777 are the most heavily impacted by these changes.

Northern Arteries: Coomera Connector and Smith Street

In the northern suburbs, the Coomera Connector Stage 1 project continues to significantly alter local traffic patterns. The bridge overpass at Ridgevale Drive remains fully closed as part of the 2026 bridge replacement program. Motorists are advised to follow posted detours via the Smith Street Motorway. Furthermore, the eastbound access ramp from the Smith Street Motorway to Smith Street in Arundel remains closed for planned roadworks. This closure is expected to cause bottlenecks for drivers heading toward Southport or the Broadwater. Authorities recommend allowing for an additional 15 minutes of travel time when navigating the Parkwood and Arundel interchanges during the morning peak.

Hinterland and Local Road Closures

For those traveling to or from the Gold Coast Hinterland, the Gold Coast-Springbrook Road continues to operate under stop/slow traffic control at 28 active work sites. Crews are performing critical landslip remediation and pavement reconstruction between Neranwood and Pine Creek Road. Locally, Berrigans Road in Mudgeeraba remains closed between Gold Coast-Springbrook Road and Mark Way for urgent rehabilitation. With peak hour traffic expected to be high across the city, motorists are urged to stay alert, follow on-road signage, and plan their journeys in advance.