Project info
The bypass is expected to take 55% of traffic off the existing Gold Coast Highway by 2017 and reduce travel time between Currumbin and Tweed Heads West to five minutes. Without the bypass, delays of up to 30 minutes on the Gold Coast Highway would be common by 2017.
Key features
- Four lanes with the provision to be upgraded to six.
- Grade-separated interchanges at Stewart Road, Currumbin and at the Tweed Heads Bypass, Tweed Heads West.
- 334 m tunnel underneath the Gold Coast Airport's runway extension.
- Twin bridges over Hidden Valley.
- Preserved rail corridor allowing for a future rail line from Robina to the Gold Coast Airport.
- 800,000 m³ of bulk earthworks.
- Pavement construction included 160,000 m³ of concrete and 90,000 tonnes of asphalt.
- Over 600 jobs were created during the peak of construction in October 2006.
Important notice: load restrictions for the Tugun Bypass
- Dangerous: dangerous goods class 1
- Flammable gases: dangerous goods class 2.1
- Dangerous goods: mixed class
- Tunnel vertical clearance: 5.1 metres
- Load width maximum: 3.5 metres.
Tugun Bypass opens to traffic
The new Tugun Bypass opened to traffic on Tuesday, 3 June 2008, six months ahead of the scheduled completion date.
The southbound lane was opened to traffic at approximately 2 pm, followed by the northbound lane at 3.30 pm.
Minister for Main Roads Warren Pitt said the congestion between Coolangatta and Tugun has been consigned to history, now that the Tugun Bypass is open to traffic.
"Finally, the long-suffering motorists of the southern Gold Coast will get some permanent relief from the congestion and traffic snarls that had become an all-too-common feature of the Gold Coast Highway along the Tugun stretch," Mr Pitt said.
The bypass is expected to carry between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicles a day, with daily traffic projected to rise to 60,000 vehicles by 2017.
The PacificLink Alliance team, who designed and constructed the Tugun Bypass, greeted the first vehicles on the bypass with cheers and waves. Over 3,500 people completed the site induction and worked on the Tugun Bypass project between February 2006 and June 2008.
Community brave the wet to walk the bypass
The majority of celebrations for the community day on Sunday, 1 June 2008 were cancelled due to wet weather.
The community was still given the opportunity to complete a walk from Boyd Street overpass to the tunnel. Bus tours to the tunnel were also available.
Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese officially opened the bypass at a ceremony held in the tunnel.
Over 8,000 people braved the wet to complete the walk to the tunnel and inspect the bypass before it was opened to traffic.
PacificLink Alliance raised money for Camp Quality and RACQ Careflight, the nominated charities for the community open day.
Managing groundwater on the Tugun Bypass project
The dewatering at the Tugun Bypass tunnel site was only required during the construction of the tunnel. Now that construction is complete and the road open natural groundwater flows have resumed over, under and around the tunnel. Twenty three bores were installed to monitor water levels and chemical properties during and after construction.
Further information about the managing groundwater on the Tugun Bypass project is available for download.
The latest six monthly compliance report, containing test results is available below. The Environmental Reference Group (ERG), comprising state, local and commonwealth environmental representatives met numerous times on site to discuss the project's environmental management and performance. They indicated that they were confident the site was suitably managed by the Alliance, that there are no current effects on the wetlands or the Cobaki Broadwater, and with minimal risk of any long term effects.
Some small areas of flora die-back did occur and were inspected by the ERG and independent experts. The die-back was attributed the combination of effects impacting on groundwater levels and localized frosts. Substantial regrowth was subsequently observed following rains in these areas. The trees that were trimmed by the Gold Coast Airport immediately adjacent to the tunnel, to comply with flight path height restrictions, also showed substantial regrowth.
Managing groundwater on the Tugun Bypass project
Map/design
Tugun Bypass layout (PDF, 637 KB)
The Tugun Bypass includes interchanges at Currumbin and Tweed Heads West. Detailed interchange maps are available for download.
Key milestones
- 2004: Route of the bypass agreed to by NSW and Queensland Governments
- 2004–05: Community consultation
- 2006: Pre-construction works commenced in April and official construction works in June
- 2006: Essential tunnel works completed three and a half days ahead of 10 November deadline
- 2007: Premier announces the project will be complete six months ahead of schedule in mid-2008
- 2008: Community open day held 1 June 2008
- 2008: Tugun Bypass opened to traffic 3 June 2008
Latest newsletters
Community newsletter: May 2008 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Compliance report
Report prepared by Ecos Environmental Pty Ltd
Monitoring of Vegetation Condition Adjacent to the Tunnel Section of the Tugun Bypass (PDF, 12 MB)
Contact details
