Sunshine Motorway
Encyclopedia
The Sunshine Motorway is a thirty-three kilometre Australia
n motorway on the Sunshine Coast
region of Queensland
, just north of Brisbane
. It was initially a tolled motorway before these were removed in 1993 after excessive complaint regarding any such need of a toll.
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.
Deviation. Following this, the next section from Nicklin Way to David Low Way opened in 1990, and the motorway was completed in 1995 with the road linked to Emu Mountain Road, which then takes traffic to the Eumundi-Noosa Road. Emu Mountain Road was heavily realigned and upgraded specifically for this purpose. Sometimes this stretch is referred to as the Sunshine Motorway itself.
During 2007, a new road was constructed to connect Emu Mountain Road with Eenie Creek Road, the southern arterial road in Noosa Heads, effectively bypassing Eumundi-Noosa Road entirely. This link met Emu Mountain Road at a new roundabout constructed immediately east of the Eumarella Road intersection (which is now inaccessible, along with the original pre-1995 alignment of Eumarella Road). The link was named Walter Hay Drive.
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.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n motorway on the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
region of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, just north of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. It was initially a tolled motorway before these were removed in 1993 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 HighwayBruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
at Palmview
Palmview, Queensland
Palmview is a suburb in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is home to Aussie World and the Ettamogah Pub.-External links:*...
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
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
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
Mooloolaba, Queensland
Mooloolaba is a suburb and tourist resort township on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is located north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is part of the Maroochydore urban centre.- Etymology :...
and Maroochydore
Maroochydore, Queensland
Maroochydore is an urban centre on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.Maroochydore is a major commercial area of the Sunshine Coast with most shopping precincts located in the central business district. It is home to the Sunshine Plaza shopping centre and the Sunshine Coast's major bus...
, 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
The motorway originally opened between the Bruce Highway and Nicklin Way in 1988, around the same time as the TanawhaTanawha, Queensland
Tanawha is a suburb of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, and is part of the Buderim urban centre. It is home of the Tanawha Tourist Drive, which contains the Bellingham Maze and the Superbee Honey Factory. This road once carried the Bruce Highway until November 1989.-External links:**...
Deviation. Following this, the next section from Nicklin Way to David Low Way opened in 1990, and the motorway was completed in 1995 with the road linked to Emu Mountain Road, which then takes traffic to the Eumundi-Noosa Road. Emu Mountain Road was heavily realigned and upgraded specifically for this purpose. Sometimes this stretch is referred to as the Sunshine Motorway itself.
During 2007, a new road was constructed to connect Emu Mountain Road with Eenie Creek Road, the southern arterial road in Noosa Heads, effectively bypassing Eumundi-Noosa Road entirely. This link met Emu Mountain Road at a new roundabout constructed immediately east of the Eumarella Road intersection (which is now inaccessible, along with the original pre-1995 alignment of Eumarella Road). The link 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
- Freeways in AustraliaFreeways in AustraliaThis is a list of freeways and motorways in Australia, sorted by states and territories and their corresponding routes. This list includes toll roads such as the CityLink freeway system in Melbourne. This list has over 70 entries...
- Freeways in Sunshine Coast