After 167,000 tonnes of asphalt and one million hours worked, the jointly funded $218.5 million M1 upgrade from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes is complete.
From this morning more than 80,000 drivers each day will get home sooner and safer, with more efficient access onto and off the M1.
The upgrade has widened the stretch of motorway to at least three lanes in each direction and a fourth lane northbound between Robina (Exit 82) and near Mudgeeraba (Exit 79) has also been added.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said despite COVID the project had been completed on-time had supported hundreds of jobs during construction.
"This is a critical piece of infrastructure for the Gold Coast that will give local and interstate communities as well as businesses an economic boost to both for years to come," Mr Tudge said.
"It's a congestion-busting upgrade that is part of our overall infrastructure investment in Queensland that is creating jobs and critical economic support as we come out of COVID."
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the milestone was a triumph of local business acumen, with 321 jobs supported during construction and 80 per cent of business working on the upgrade local.
"Investing in Queensland infrastructure means creating Queensland jobs, as we unite and recover from COVID-19," Mr Bailey said.
"Completing this project means crews can now turn their focus to the largest project ever on the M1, the $1 billion upgrade from Varsity Lakes to the border, which will see more than 830 jobs brought online.
"Thanks to Queensland's strong response to the pandemic, the Queensland Government has been able to continue delivering our record $23 billion pipeline of road and transport projects, crucial to stimulating our economic recovery."
Federal LNP Member for McPherson Karen Andrews said it was great to see all lanes open and, for the first time in two years, speed limits back to 100 km/h through the busy Mudgeeraba stretch.
"For too long, motorists have had to put up with the Mudgeeraba bottleneck," Mrs Andrews said.
"Finally, the 5.7-kilometre upgrade is complete - with added lanes, as well as upgraded on and off ramps and bridges, to better accommodate for the thousands of vehicles which use the M1 every day."
"Of course, the Federal Government doesn't just want to push that bottleneck further south and that's why we've committed $500m to upgrading the M1 all the way to Tugun, with that work already underway."
State Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said with more than 126,000 vehicles expected to use the M1 by 2026, the $218.5 million upgrade would accommodate the growing Gold Coast region alongside Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A, interchange upgrades on the M1 and the $1 billion Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade.
"Whether it's widening the M1, upgrading key exits, working on the business case for the Coomera Connector or expanding light rail, we're committed to building the infrastructure our city needs and to creating local jobs," Ms Scanlon said.
"This milestone means from Tugun to the city's northern suburbs, drivers are seeing billions in M1 upgrades so that they can get home sooner and safer."
The $218.5 million Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes project has been jointly funded by the Australian Government committing $110 million and the Queensland Government providing the remaining funding.
