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Statistics:

• Length: 1802 km (Brisbane River to Bald Hills: 22 km)
• Northern Terminus: Captain Cook Hwy (NR1), Florence St and Sheridan St, Cairns
• Southern Terminus: NSW Border at Tugun
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route: Eagle Farm, Brisbane Airport, Banyo, Nudgee, Nudgee Beach, Boondall, Taigum, Deagon, Bracken Ridge and Bald Hills

Route Numbering:

• Current: M1

• Former: M1
• Road Authority Internal Classification: N332 (Gateway Motorway) 1

General Information:

Gateway Motorway:

The Gateway Motorway passes through Brisbane's eastern suburbs, and services mostly residential and industrial areas, both north and south of the Brisbane River. It provides access to ports and the airport.

The Gateway Motorway features dual bridges over the Brisbane River, once known as the Gateway Bridges, but now named Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, named after an Australian senior public servant and administrator. The bridges operate under an electronic tolling system where motorists pay via a transponder or temporary online account.

The bridges have a number of interesting features including: 2

• A height clearance of 55 m over the high tide mark of the Brisbane River, to allow the largest of ships to pass safely under the bridge.
• A clear span width of at least 230 m so ships of varying size and width could safely manoeuvre under the bridge.
• A maximum 80 m height of the superstructure (including the height of the lamp posts and direction signs) so as not to interfere with flight paths of aircraft taking off or landing at Brisbane Airport.

At the time of its completion, the bridge boasted a number of Australian and world class achievements, including:

• The longest cantilevered concrete box girder main river span, at a length of 260 m.
• An erection truss weighing 650 t.
• Stressing cables in the approach spans were the highest loaded cables in a structure in Australia, with 2200 t of 12 mm low relaxation stressing strand.
• Bridge bearings, with a maximum tested load of 4300 t, were the biggest pot bearings made in Australia.

History:

Gateway Motorway:

• June 1980: The Gateway Bridge Company was established to oversee construction of the Gateway Bridge and, following construction, to maintain the bridge and collect tolls. 3
• August 1980 Work began on the six-lane Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. 2
• December 1985: The Gateway Bridge and motorway approaches were completed.
• 1986: The Gateway Arterial was constructed in two stages and was completed.
• 11 January 1986: The original Gateway Bridge was officially opened. 4 Around 200,000 people attended the opening festivities and walked the new bridge.
• 1995: Construction began on a southern extension to the Logan Motorway, creating the Southern Brisbane Bypass, which eventually was renamed to Gateway Motorway. 5
• 13 May 1997: The Southern Brisbane Bypass was opened to traffic by Vaughan Johnson, then-Minister for Transport and Main Roads. 5
• 9 March 2007: Work starts on second Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. 6
• September 2008: An extra lane on the Gateway Motorway over Wynnum Road opened to traffic. 7
• July 2009: Upgraded Gateway Motorway north of Gateway Bridge opened to traffic. 8
• 2010: A 7 km stretch of the Gateway Motorway that runs between Eagle Farm and Nudgee Road at Banyo, renamed Southern Cross Way after realignment of Gateway Motorway. 9
• June 2010: Demolition of the old Gateway Motorway Overpass (now Southern Cross Way) over Airport Drive in preparation of new overpass. 10

This page concentrates on photos of the former alignment between Brisbane River and Bald Hills
Click here for photos of the former alignment between Brisbane River and Ball Hills signposted as Southern Cross Way

Brisbane River to Bald Hills			Bald Hills to Brisbane River
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gateway Mwy (M1) at Eagle Farm approaching Kingsford Smith Dr (SR25), March 2009 Image © Rob Tilley			Overdimensional Route Trailblazers: Trailblazers for OD route 1 and 2, Bald Hills, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Kingsford Smith Drive: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Kingsford Smith Dr (SR25) interchange at Eagle Farm. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Bracken Ridge Rd at Bald Hills, March 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Eagle Farm, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Bracken Ridge Rd at Bald Hills, December 2009. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign ae Ascot, approaching East-West Arterial Rd (SR20), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Bracken Ridge Rd at Bracken Ridge, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Hendra, approaching East-West Arterial Rd (SR20), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Bracken Ridge Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bracken Ridge Rd interchange, Bracken Ridge, December 2009. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign ae Hendra, approaching East-West Arterial Rd (SR20), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Deagon Deviation: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Deagon Deviation (SR26) interchange at Sandgate, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	East-West Arterial Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) interchange at Hendra. Image © Rob Tilley			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Deagon, February 2015. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) at Hendra, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign: Freeway green AD sign approaching Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, February 2015. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) at Hendra, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) at Hendra, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Bicentennial Road Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange at Boondall. August 2009. Note the freeway green sign. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nundah approaching Toombul Rd, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Bicentennial Road Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange at Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nundah approaching Toombul Rd, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Distance Sign: RD sign at Boondall, February 2015. Click here for a photo of the previous freeway green sign by Rob Tilley from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign: Freeway green ID sign at the Toombul Rd interchange, Nundah, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Services Sign: AD sign at Nudgee Beach for the interchange with Nudgee Rd and access to the service centre. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign: Freeway green ID sign on Toombul Rd at the Gateway Mwy (M1) interchange, Northgate, May 2005. Image © Michael Greenslade			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for Nudgee Rd interchange. Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Nundah, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gateway Mwy (M1) at approaching the Nudgee Rd interchange at Nudgee Beach. December 2009. Click here for a photo of this location from March 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign in the Nudgee Service Centre, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Nudgee Road Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Nudgee Rd interchange at Nudgee Beach, February 2015. Click here for a photo of the previous freeway green sign by Rob Tilley from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign in the Nudgee Service Centre, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign: Freeway green ID sign on the Nudgee Rd interchange at Nudgee, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign: Freeway Green ID sign at the Nudgee Rd interchange, Nudgee Rd, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the Nudgee Rd interchange at Nudgee, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nudgee on Nudgee Road at the Gateway Mwy (M1) interchange, August 2009 Image © Rob Tilley			Distance Sign: RD sign at Nudgee, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Nudgee, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Southern Cross Way (former Gateway Mwy) at Banyo, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from August 2009. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from December 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	National Highway Sign: Sign from the now defunct National Highway system, next to Nundah Creek at Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Distance Sign: RD sign at Banyo, August 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign: Freeway green AD sign approaching Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Old Gateway Motorway: Ramp onto Old Gateway Mwy from Gateway Mwy (M1) at Banyo, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Bicentennial Rd interchange, Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: Advance directional sign at Banyo approaching Toombul Rd, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Fire Ants Sign: Sign warning of the spread of fire ants and what items are prohibited beyond the sign. Boodall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign: Freeway green advance directional sign at Banyo approaching Toombul Rd, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Bicentennial Road Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Bicentennial Rd interchange in Boondall, July 2011. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Toombul Road: Freeway green sign at the Toombul Rd interchange at Northgate, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) at Nundah, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign for the Deagon Deviation (SR26) interchange, Boondall, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign: Freeway green AD sign approaching East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) at Nundah, March 2009. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
	Freeway Green Advance Directional Sign: Freeway Green AD sign at Taigum, approaching Depot Rd (SR27), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			East-West Arterial Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) interchange, Nundah, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Taigum, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to East-West Arterial Rd (SR20) at Nundah, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Depot Rd (SR27) interchange, Taigum, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Brisbane Airport, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Depot Rd (SR27) interchange, Deagon, July 2011. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kingsford Smith Rd (SR25) interchange, Brisbane Airport, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Depot Road Interchange: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Depot Rd (SR27) interchange at Deagon, July 2011. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kingsford Smith Rd (SR25) interchange, Brisbane Airport, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to Depot Rd (SR27) at Deagon July 2011. Despite what the sign says, there is no SR40 duplex. SR40 should be prefixed with 'To'. Image © Rob Tilley			Toll Charges Sign: Toll charges sign on Gateway Mwy (M1) at Brisbane Airport for Gateway Bridge. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Depot Road: Off ramp to Depot Rd (SR27) at Deagon July 2011. Despite what the sign says, there is no SR40 duplex. SR40 should be prefixed with 'To'. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kingsford Smith Rd (SR25) interchange at Eagle Farm , March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26) interchange, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Kingsford Smith Road: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Kingsford Smith Rd (SR25) interchange, Eagle Farm, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to Kingsford Smith Rd (SR25), Eagle Farm. March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Eagle Farm, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bracken Ridge approaching Deagon Deviation (SR26), March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Eagle Farm for Lytton Rd (SR24) interchange. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Deagon Deviation: Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Deagon Deviation (SR26) interchange at Bracken Ridge, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley			Gateway Bridge: Gateway Mwy (M1) as it crosses Brisbane River via Gateway Bridge at Eagle Farm, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of Gateway Mwy (M1) between Rochedale and Brisbane River

1 Department of Transport and Main Roads, The State Road Network of Queensland, 30 June 2010
2 Queensland Roads Edition No 1 March 2006
3 Queensland Roads, Edition No 8, March 2010
4 Queensland Roads, Edition No 4, September 2007
5 Queensland Motorways Annual Report 1996-1997
6 Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade Project well underway, 26 September 2007
7 Queensland Cabinent and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Extra Gateway Motorway lane opens – with more to come, 12 September 2008
8 Queensland Cabinent and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Gateway Upgrade delivers seven kilometres of new motorway, 17 July 2009
9 Sydney Morning Herald, Gateway renamed the Southern Cross Way, 17 September 2010
10 Queensland Cabinent and Ministerial Directory, Media Statements, Demolition begins on old Gateway Motorway Overpass, 2 June 2010

Last updated: 21-Oct-2021 1:14

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