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|length=33
{{infobox road
|country=AUS
|state=QLD
|type=state
|route=70
|name=Sunshine Motorway
<!--|marker_image=[[File:AUSR70.png|70px]]-->
|length_km=33
|direction=East-West, North-South
|direction=East-West, North-South
|terminus_a=[[Sippy Downs, Queensland|Sippy Downs]]
|from=[[Sippy Downs, Queensland|Sippy Downs]]
|terminus_b=[[Coolum, Queensland|Coolum Beach]]
|to=[[Coolum, Queensland|Coolum]]
|destinations=[[Mooloolaba, Queensland|Mooloolaba]], [[Maroochydore, Queensland|Maroochydore]], [[Pacific Paradise, Queensland|Pacific Paradise]], [[Coolum, Queensland|Coolum Beach]]}}
|via=[[Mooloolaba, Queensland|Mooloolaba]], [[Maroochydore, Queensland|Maroochydore]], [[Pacific Paradise, Queensland|Pacific Paradise]], [[Coolum, Queensland|Coolum Beach]]}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| type = freeway
| road_name = Sunshine Motorway
| state = qld
| route_image = AUSR70.png
| photo =
| photosize =
| caption =
| photo_alt =
| location =
| location_alt =
| coordinates =
| length = 33
| length_ref =
| direction_a = East
| direction_b = South
| end_a = {{QLDcity|Sippy Downs}}
| end_b = {{QLDcity|Coolum Beach}}
| est =
| closed =
| gazetted =
| gazetted_ref =
| maintained =
| history =
| route =
| exits = {{Plainlist|
* {{QLDcity|Mooloolaba}}, [[Maroochydore]],
* {{QLDcity|Pacific Paradise}}, {{QLDcity|Coolum Beach}}
}}
| region =
| lga =
| through =
| show_links = yes
}}
The '''Sunshine Motorway''' is a thirty-three kilometre [[Australia]]n [[motorway]] on the [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast]] region of [[Queensland]], just north of [[Brisbane]]. It was initially a tolled motorway before these were removed in 1996 after excessive complaint regarding any such need of a toll.
The '''Sunshine Motorway''' is a thirty-three kilometre [[Australia]]n [[motorway]] on the [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast]] region of [[Queensland]], just north of [[Brisbane]]. It was initially a tolled motorway before these were removed in 1996 after excessive complaint regarding any such need of a toll.



Revision as of 01:50, 31 May 2013

|length=33 |direction=East-West, North-South |from=Sippy Downs |to=Coolum |via=Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Pacific Paradise, Coolum Beach}}

Sunshine Motorway

General information
TypeFreeway
Length33 km (21 mi)
Major junctions
East endSippy Downs
 
South endCoolum Beach
Highway system

The Sunshine Motorway is a thirty-three kilometre Australian motorway on the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland, just north of Brisbane. It was initially a tolled motorway before these were removed in 1996 after excessive complaint regarding any such need of a toll.

Overview

The Sunshine Motorway is unusual in as much as it is a low budget motorway and also because it changes direction dramatically from East-West to North-South at the Nicklin Way interchange. It starts at the interchange with the Bruce Highway at Palmview continuing east past Sippy Downs and Mountain Creek where it then meets the Nicklin Way and heads North to end at the Emu Mountain Road near Peregian Beach. Because it is low budget, most of the traffic travels in only one lane in each direction, however from the Bruce Highway to Kawana Way and from the Nicklin Way to the Mudjimba/David Low Way exit it is dual carriageway. Towns along the motorway include Mooloolaba and Maroochydore, both of which are known for being holiday spots.

The Queensland State Government has committed to spending a large amount of money on duplication sections of the Sunshine Motorway, due to significant growth within the area. The latest upgrade was completed in 2008, along with the Maroochydore Road upgrade.

Construction

Stage One of the motorway (Bruce Highway to Pacific Paradise) opened on 20 January 1990. This section contained three toll booths, and was completely grade-separated.

Stage Two of the motorway (Pacific Paradise to Peregian Springs) was officially opened on 29 December 1993. Unlike Stage One, this section did not include toll booths, but did pass through two large roundabouts. Emu Mountain Road was realigned and reconstructed to carry motorway traffic to Eumundi-Noosa, on which work was completed in October 1993.[1]

After much public displeasure,[2] the Queensland Government officially ceased tolling on midnight of 8 March 1996.[3]

On 28 April 2006 a new road opened between Eumarella Road and Eenie Creek Road at Noosaville, taking State Route 70 along with it. The road was named Walter Hay Drive.

Future

As the Sunshine Coast continues to grow, more and more stress is placed upon the Motorway from the added weight of the population. During peak hours, most interchanges along the single-carriageway section of the Motorway acquire congestion. To remedy this problem, Main Roads Queensland are currently planning and constructing various new sections of the Motorway, under a plan called SM2032. These constructions mainly include upgrading to dual carriageway along the more populated areas through which the motorway passes; other constructions included the Maroochy River Bridge duplication (completed in 2008) and various safety measures throughout the entire length of the motorway.

As of 2010, the entire freeway from Mooloolaba to Pacific Paradise is four lane dual-carriageway motorway. There is still a two-lane section between Kawana Way and Nicklin Way, and north of Pacific Paradise is also still two lanes.

See also

References

  1. ^ [1] Sunshine Motorway Annual Report 1993-94
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ [3] Sunshine Motorway Annual Report 1995-96